Dental implants are the best thing that can be done for Philadelphia residents who have lost teeth. Once you have implants, you regain control over your mouth, and your smile will look better. The newest and most affordable dental implants look and feel just like your real teeth, so you can chew and smile like you did before.
Still, implants should be taken care of the same way you would your normal teeth. If you want your implants to last a long time and look good, you should learn how to keep them clean.
If you do not take care of your implants, they can become seriously damaged and cause a lot of mouth problems. In these situations, not taking care of your mouth health can cause bone loss, pain, inflammation, soreness, and peri-implantitis. If you are interested in learning more about dental implants in Northeast Philadelphia, consult a dentist today!
Can infections happen to dental implants?
Since dental implants are made of plastic, they do not get cavities or infections. However, a gum infection called implantitis can put the implant at risk. This condition impacts both the hard and soft parts of the implant. If you don’t clean the implants, sticky plaque can stick to them and harden into tooth calculus.
Calculus is made up of rough, hard layers that eat away at the base of teeth or implants. It can make the gums pull away from the teeth, cause bone loss, and cause the implant to fall out. Calculus cannot be removed with a toothbrush or floss, so only a dental hygienist can remove it.
How to keep dental implants in good shape.
To avoid calculus and gum disease, brush and floss your teeth twice a day and make sure there is no plaque on your dental implants. It is very important to brush and floss your teeth and implants after meals to get rid of food bits that feed the bacteria in plaque. You should use an ADA-approved toothbrush to clean your teeth and make sure to brush all sides of the implant.
You should use the following:
- A small, soft hand toothbrush that is approved by the ADA or an electric toothbrush
- A toothpaste with low abrasion that gets rid of tartar
- Dental floss can be used to clean around the implants.
- Mouthwash with germ-killer
In addition to taking care of your teeth every day at home, make sure you see your dentist regularly. Every three to six months, you should get a skilled checkup and cleaning to keep small problems from getting worse. You should also get x-rays of your tooth implants once a year to check for any problems.
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