A dental implant can significantly transform your smile, offering a solution that feels and functions just like a natural tooth. However, the success of this transformation doesn't simply rely on the surgical procedure alone. A successful and long-lasting dental implant also depends on how well you care for your new implant, especially in the days and weeks following the procedure. Proper care ensures the longevity and effectiveness of your implant, helping you maintain that renewed smile!
This is why we’ve put together our useful guide on how to care for a new dental implant. Read on for some of our top tips to ensure your implant heals well and lasts as long as possible.
Use a Soft Toothbrush Brush
Once you have a dental implant, it's crucial that you maintain impeccable oral hygiene. Start
with the basics and use a soft nylon toothbrush. This type of brush is gentle on your healing
implants and surrounding gums. A soft-bristled brush effectively cleans without causing
abrasion to the implant surface or irritating your gums.
As well as this, opting for a non-abrasive toothpaste can help. Some toothpastes contain
ingredients that can scratch the surface of your implant, particularly the more delicate crown part. By avoiding these more abrasive substances, you will be able to protect the integrity and appearance of your implant, ensuring it remains in top condition. Your dentist may be able to recommend an ideal, non-abrasive toothpaste that can also help with any other dental concerns you may have.
Floss Daily
Flossing should be an integral part of your dental care routine anyway, but the importance of maintaining this habit becomes even more significant when you’re caring for implants. Daily flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from areas your toothbrush can't reach, especially those trickier parts around the implant. Flossing each day will ensure the area surrounding your implant remains free from debris and food particles, reducing the potential for harmful bacteria to build up and compromise the quality of your implant.
From a long-term perspective, is essential for preventing gum disease, which can jeopardise
the success of your implant. Gum disease can lead to inflammation and, in severe cases, can cause the loss of the bone that supports the implant — a condition known as peri-implantitis. Flosses, such as those designed for use around implants or water flossers, can be particularly effective for cleaning around implants and are worth discussing with your
dentist.
It’s important to remember not to disturb the implant site immediately following your
procedure. This means you should avoid flossing around the new implant until your dentist
advises you it’s safe to do so. When the time to start flossing does arrive and your implant is
fully healed, try not to be too vigorous with the floss. Putting too much pressure on healing
tissues and the implant itself can disrupt the area, which is why we recommend the special
flosses and water flossers mentioned above.
Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods
In the initial period following your implant surgery, it's crucial that you protect the implant
site from unnecessary stress. Sticky and hard foods can lead to you putting excessive force
on the implant, potentially leading to complications. In the first 24 hours, and sometimes
longer (as advised by your dentist), you should stick to soft foods to ensure that the implant
site is not disturbed.
We would also advise you to avoid many sticky and hard foods even beyond the initial healing period, as they can damage the crown or cause discomfort. Alongside this, it’s important to abstain completely from alcohol and smoking during the healing phase. Alcohol can interfere with the healing process, while smoking is known to significantly increase the risk of implant failure due to its impact on oral and overall health.
Regular Dental Checkups
Following your dental implant procedure, regular check-ups with your dentist become more
important than ever. These appointments allow your dentist to monitor the healing process,
ensure the implant is integrating properly with your jawbone, and address any issues before
they become significant problems.
During these visits, your dentist can provide professional cleanings that help maintain the
health of the implant and the surrounding tissues. They can also check the integrity of the
implant, the condition of the surrounding gums, and ensure there's no sign of infection or
inflammation.
You should adhere strictly to your dentist's advice post-implant. They might recommend a
specific maintenance routine tailored to your needs, depending on how well the implant is
healing. Your dentist knows your teeth best, and having performed the procedure, they’ll be
best placed to help guide you through the entire healing and integration process.
If you have any doubts or notice anything unusual, don't hesitate to get in touch to ask. Open communication with your dental team is key to the long-term success of your implant. As the healing and integration process with dental implants can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months, keeping in touch is vital to ensuring the lasting quality of your procedure.
Quality Dental Implants with Kamran Rasul
We're committed to guiding you through every step of your dental implant journey. Our experienced team will take you throughout the entire process, from initial consultation to post-operative care and beyond. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you maintain your new dental implant and ensure the health of your smile for
years to come.
Our Liverpool dental surgery is ideally placed to help you decide whether dental implants will work for you. With a warm and welcoming team situated within our invitingly luxurious interior, we’ll advise you with tailored steps to help enhance your unique smile.
If this guide has you contemplating whether a dental implant is for you, get in touch with our team today for more information. You can call us on 0151 433 9634 or send us a message via our online contact page.