If you’ve decided to replace your missing teeth with dental implants in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, it’s most likely because you want the most permanent and healthiest solution. While much of your dental implant’s long-term reliability comes from the expertise of your implant dentist, that doesn’t make at-home care any less important. Along with visiting your dentist routinely for cleanings and exams, you’ll want to follow a good oral hygiene regimen at home to help ensure the long-term success of your dental implants!
Do Dental Implants Need Special Care?
Though not real teeth, dental implants take on virtually all the same characteristics and functions. This design is how dental implants remain permanently fixed in your jaw, acting and looking like natural teeth. They can be cared for much like real teeth, as dental implants also rely on healthy bone and gum tissue to remain stable and free from infection and disease. Where dental implants and natural teeth differ most is that the material used to create the dental implant crown (visible part of the tooth) is both decay and stain resistant.
Practice These Good Oral Health Habits For A Healthy Smile:
- Brush with a soft-bristle or electric toothbrush twice a day
- Floss once a day using dental floss or a water flosser
- Use antimicrobial mouth rinse at least once a day
- Refrain from smoking or tobacco use
- Eat a healthy diet low in starches, sugars, and carbs
- Visit your dentist every 3-6 months for cleanings
- Have x-rays taken each year to assess bone health
What If I Have Been Noticing Something Unusual?
If you have been experiencing symptoms related to peri-implantitis, such as bleeding gums around your dental implant, schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately. This condition develops because of bacterial plaque accumulation around the implant below the gumline. If this infection is left to progress, it can cause the gum tissue to pull away from the dental implant, exposing the post and increasing the risk for bone deterioration and implant failure.
Schedule Your Appointment
Have more questions about dental implant maintenance or seeing signs of trouble? Schedule an appointment with our doctor, Amarik Singh, DDS, MS, MICOI, in our office in Oakbrook Terrace, IL today!
