6 Expert-Approved Tips for Maintaining Your Dental Implants

Do you have a missing or failing tooth? Dental implants in Hamden, Connecticut, are the next best option for your natural teeth. Dental implants are anchored in the jawbone, providing the stability and comfort of natural teeth. Pearl Dental Care blends technical skills with advanced technology to place and restore high-quality dental implants. Whether you are missing one or multiple teeth, you can entrust your smile to Drs. Gary Pearl, Scott Pearl, and Adam Abel.

Maintenance tips for dental implants

Congratulations on your new dental implant! You’ll enjoy full function and tooth-like aesthetics for many years. While dental implants are designed to last a lifetime, proper care isn’t an option. 

Follow these steps to keep your implants healthy and strong. 

1. Brush your teeth: The rumor is true—dental implants can’t develop cavities. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for your implants. The surrounding bone and gums can be infected, compromising your implant. Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste to prevent plaque buildup. We recommend an electric toothbrush, but a traditional one works fine when used correctly. 
2. Floss like a boss: Your toothbrush only reaches about 60% of your tooth surfaces. Ensure you floss your teeth at least once daily, possibly before bedtime. Flossing prevents plaque accumulation between teeth and other areas your toothbrush cannot reach.
3. Bi-annual dental visits: Even with optimal at-home oral hygiene, you still need the help of a dentist. Visit us twice yearly or sooner for dental cleanings and check-ups. Teeth cleanings allow us to remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach surfaces of your mouth. Routine oral exams enable us to inspect the condition of your implants and make any interventions before it’s too late. 
4. Invest in a mouthguard: Do you participate in contact or high-risk games? Protect your implants and entire smile with customized sports guards. An athletic guard shields your teeth from sports-related knocks and blows. Similarly, if you have chronic teeth grinding (bruxism), you should consider a bespoke nightguard. A bruxism mouthguard protects your teeth and implants from bruxism-induced damage.
5. Only use your teeth to chew food: Habits like fingernail biting and chewing on pens can dislodge or break dental implants. Your implants and even natural teeth are designed to chew food. Using them to bite non-food items subjects them to undue pressure, which causes damage.  
6. Quit smoking: Your dentist will advise you to quit tobacco products even before your implant surgery. Smoking restricts blood flow, which hinders healing and slows down osseointegration. Nicotine also weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of infection around the implant site. Long-term smoking can lead to gum disease, bone loss, and, ultimately, implant failure. For the long-term success of your dental implant, quit smoking before and after your procedure.

Dental implants are the “gold standard” of teeth replacement because they mimic your natural teeth to near perfect. With implants, you eat, smile, and talk like you have 100% natural teeth. Dental implants also last many years and provide unique benefits like jawbone preservation. Isn’t it wise to maintain something with such life-changing benefits? We think so!

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New Patients: (203) 285-8245 Existing Patients: (203) 281-7722

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High-quality dental implants near Hamden

Are you missing one or multiple teeth? Get the healthy, confident smile you deserve with dental implants. To get started, call (203) 285-8245 to schedule an appointment with Pearl Dental Care.