Does Oral Hygiene Change After Getting Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, but they do require a longer treatment process and recovery period. You will have to make certain oral hygiene changes after getting dental implants. This is done to reduce the risk of oral infection, implant failure, and other serious concerns.
Tips for successful oral hygiene with dental implants
There are certain oral hygiene changes that patients must make after getting dental implants. In addition, the healing period after implant placement requires careful oral hygiene. The following is a review of oral care, dietary, and physical activity changes that may be required after getting dental implants.
Practicing oral hygiene carefully
When discussing oral hygiene, most think about their brushing routine and how often they floss and use mouthwash. This is an important aspect of oral hygiene, but oral hygiene involves protecting teeth from trauma and dietary choices, as well. As it relates specifically to brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash, patients should keep a consistent routine and exercise caution while caring for their teeth. This should include brushing the mouth gently to avoid irritation (especially during recovery from the implant placement), flossing each day, and using mouthwash as directed by the dentist.
Reducing the risk of a dental injury
Another important aspect of oral hygiene is preventing a dental injury, which is typically caused by a blow to the mouth. Anytime patients with dental implants participate in physical activities in which a blow to the face is possible, such as contact sports and weightlifting, wearing a mouthguard is important. This helps prevent damage to the replacement teeth or the implant if an accident were to occur. In addition, those who grind their teeth at night may need to wear a mouthguard while sleeping to prevent bruxism. Taking these precautions can reduce the risk of needing early dental implant restoration or replacement.
Dietary changes after dental implants
The food and drinks that patients consume play a role in how long dental implants last and how good the patient’s overall oral hygiene is. It is important to reduce the intake of sugar and other carbohydrates as they can combine with bacteria in the mouth and create an acidic reaction that damages the structures of teeth (gums and bone) that support the implant. Excessive sugar consumption can also increase the risk of cavities to other teeth and an oral infection while recovering from implant placement.
Regular visits with the implant dentist
Visiting the dentist for all scheduled checkups is essential for everyone, especially after getting dental implants. Routine checkups can help ensure good oral hygiene in the long term by detecting the early signs of oral health complications before they develop further.
Talk to our dental team today about getting dental implants
If you are considering dental implants or oral care with dental implants, then contact us today. Everyone deserves to have an option to replace their missing teeth, and we offer dental implants (and other services) for our patients.
Request an appointment here: https://www.cottrellsmilesva.com or call Richard Cottrell, DDS & Associates at (540) 775-7671 for an appointment in our King George office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Implants in King George, VA.
Recent Posts
Dental implants can improve your oral health and appearance. There are many benefits to choosing this tooth-replacement method. Of course, implants are not the only way you can restore your smile and the function of your mouth. However, as you learn more about them, you will see why so many people choose this treatment. Living…
Dentures and dental implants are two of the most common methods of single tooth replacement. Both are effective, but one might be preferable to the other, depending on the specifics of the patient’s situation and the patient’s preferences and needs. When determining whether dentures or dental implants is the most appropriate for tooth replacement, you should…
Dental ridge preservation is a way to preserve the socket after a missing tooth develops. Dental implants require adequate bone support, and bone loss can occur after losing a tooth if the bone density is not preserved. This review offers insights into the purpose of dental ridge preservation as it relates to dental implants treatment. Ridge…
The same day crown, like a regular crown, is essentially designed to be a cap for a permanent tooth. It is designed to look and act like a natural tooth and can restore a damaged tooth's strength, function, and look.Usually, getting a crown involves fitting two dentist visits into your hectic schedule. In the first…