At Smilemakers Dental Implant Clinic we place particular emphasis on our patients practicing proper oral healthcare after receiving implants as a tooth-replacement treatment, to ensure fast and effective healing takes place and for the successful fusion of implants. If you are considering dental implants in Southampton make sure you have a perfect understanding of the techniques and tasks that need to be observed to keep the implant site clean and free of harmful bacteria.
Failure to follow recommended care instructions puts you at risk of a number of complications that include: bleeding gums, gum infection and bone loss; not to mention implant failure and having them fall out. The following post-surgical care tips are highly recommended to ensure your implants remain healthy and last for a lifetime.
How to take care of surgical implants properly
- Pay attention to your brushing
Brushing is your first form of protection against the formation of plaque. A good tip is to use a toothbrush with soft bristles, preferably one suitable for implants, gentle enough to clean and protect the surface of the implant. Try to keep to the minimum of two minutes of brushing time using tartar-control toothpaste.
- Floss daily
Flossing is another effective technique to remove plaque or food that gets stuck between teeth. Flossing every day is best to ensure the cleanliness and good health of your teeth. If you’ve had implants inserted into your mouth, make sure to ask your dentist to show you the proper way to floss in order not to damage the implants or your gums.
- Implement an extended oral hygiene routine
While brushing and flossing every day are the two top priorities, these are certainly not the be-all and end-all of a proper dental hygiene routine. For successful dental implants in Southampton to take place additional responsibilities may include using antimicrobial mouth rinses, interdental brushes, committing to routine implant examinations and professional cleaning. Your dentist is best placed to use special equipment to clean implants thoroughly without damaging the surface area.
- Don’t eat hard foods
Certain foods that are hard or sticky can be damaging to implants. Foods like dried fruit, caramel-coated sweets and even ice can threaten the structural integrity of implants.
- Limit your alcohol intake
After undergoing the surgical implant procedure, you will want to ensure healing takes place quickly and effectively. One way to help the healing process along is to limit your alcohol consumption, as drinking over the daily limits can slow down the post-surgical healing.
- Refrain from smoking
For optimal healing to take place after having implant treatments there needs to be an adequate flow of blood to the bone, gums and teeth. Patients who smoke are urged to avoid smoking once implants are inserted and integrated, as this reduces blood flow and can affect the health of the implants.
Failure to care properly for implants can cause problems such as mucositis, the earliest sign of which is bleeding. It is possible to reverse this condition if it is diagnosed and treated early. If you have a concern or need the professional eye of a dentist to check on the health of your implants, give Smilemakers Dental Implant Clinic a call to make an appointment.
