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Dental Implants Care: Tips for Maintenance

As one of the most intensive procedures with the highest success rate in all of dentistry, dental implants are a big deal. When you get dental implants, you are essentially investing in a new tooth or batch of teeth that can last you a lifetime. But just because they aren’t your natural teeth doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give your dental implants care and maintenance.

There are several things you can do to ensure that you properly clean and care for your dental implants on a daily basis. At the office of Dr. Justin Raanan, we put the health of your teeth and gums above all else. That’s why we find it so important for you to follow these simple tips and tricks for keeping your implants clean so you can keep using them to make everyday life easier and more comfortable.

1. Throw Out Your Abrasive Toothpaste

Yes, you do need to brush and floss your dental implants just like you would your regular teeth. But you shouldn’t use any kind of toothpaste that you can find at the store. Instead, you should use a non-abrasive or very low-abrasive toothpaste so that they don’t damage your implants. Abrasive ingredients like stain removers and baking soda can actually compromise the durability of your implants as they tear away the layers of acrylic and porcelain glaze.

If you are having any trouble finding the right kind of toothpaste, you can ask your trusted dentist for recommendations.

2. Schedule Regular Appointments

It is essential that you still visit Dr. Raanan regularly, at least once or twice per year, to ensure that your implants are still in good working condition. WebMD recommends getting your dental implants checked annually, and we even recommend getting specific parts of the implants replaced once per year.

For example, your implants or overdentures may come with locator caps and o-rings. Due to natural wear and tear, it’s a good idea to get these little parts replaced every so often so you can continue on with your life as usual.

3. Invest in a Water Flosser

Some dentists may refer to this handy device as a dental water jet or an oral irrigator. No matter what you call it, it is a really handy tool to have when you have dental implants. A water flosser removes bacteria in hard-to-reach spots, helping you get rid of food particles that may otherwise never see the light of day.

We even recommend a water flosser over regular floss since it may be more difficult to reach those little nooks and crannies with ordinary flossing materials.

4. Don’t Use Bleach, Chlorine, or Hot Water to Clean Your Implants

Much like abrasive products, bleach and chlorine tend to strip away the protective layers on your implants. Over time, they can even change their color. Avoid harming the materials on your implants by using soft, non-corrosive, and non-abrasive materials.

Hot water is also bad for your dental implants, especially if they are removable implants in the form of dentures. Never soak your implants or dentures in hot water since it can bend and warp the shape of your teeth as well as strip away the protective materials.

5. Practice Healthier Habits

If you are a regular smoker, you may be putting your oral health at risk. Tobacco smoke weakens the gums and can cause inflammatory responses in your mouth, opening you up to pain and infection. Furthermore, smoking can stain the color of your implants, teeth, and gums. If you are having trouble with your smoking habits, you should get in touch with a professional. They can help you reduce the drastic effects of smoking on your body while giving you healthy habits to maintain while you recover.

Invest in Dental Implants and Stay Comfortable for a Lifetime!

At the office of Dr. Justin Raanan, we take our patients and our procedures very seriously. We offer nothing but top-of-the-line procedures and cutting-edge techniques to help you live your best life without having to worry about what’s going on inside your mouth.

Dental implants are a highly popular and widely successful solution that can give you a brand-new smile. If you have experienced tooth loss and struggle with eating, biting, chewing, talking, or even smiling, you may want to visit our top orthodontists and periodontists to see what your options are.

For more information, you can contact us online or give us a call at (310) 205-5315 to schedule your first consultation.

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