Dr. Yun will closely monitor the condition of your dental implants during your next appointment. But you also have a responsibility to take care of your smile between checkups.
Here’s how to get started.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
Do your teeth ever feel fuzzy or rough? If so, you may be leaving behind dental plaque on your teeth.
Plaque loves to eat sugar and uses it to produce cavity-causing acid. You may especially feel plaque on your teeth after eating sugary foods.
It’s important to check labels in the store since many foods we think are “healthy” aren’t good for your teeth. For example, some flavors of yogurt can have a lot of sugar. Likewise, sports drinks often contain more sugar than the average person would think.
Limiting sugary foods and drinks will make it easier for you to avoid oral health issues. To learn more, check out our blog post on the best and worst foods for your teeth.
Don’t Smoke or Otherwise Use Tobacco Products
People who smoke are not the best candidates for dental implants. This is because of the connection between your oral health and the rest of your body.
When you smoke, you increase the risk of the not fusing properly to your jawbone. People who smoke may also heal more slowly after the dental implant procedure.
Once the dental implants have successfully fused with your jawbone, you’ll still need to stay away from tobacco to keep the implants in good shape for as long as possible.
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
The American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride occurs naturally and has long been recognized for its oral health benefits. In fact, many municipalities have fluoridated drinking water to help .
Make sure you brush for two minutes so you have enough time to clean all your teeth, including the crowns for your dental implants. If you always brush your teeth with one foot out the door, you could be leaving behind plaque on back teeth that are harder to reach. It’s not uncommon for people to develop cavities in back teeth when they rush.
Floss Your Teeth Once a Day
Plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach, whether it’s on your natural teeth or dental implant crowns. That’s why it’s so important you floss once a day to remove plaque hiding in between teeth and along the gum line.
Flossing helps prevent cavities from forming in between teeth so you can avoid an unpleasant surprise during your next teeth cleaning and oral examination with us.
Use a Fluoride Mouth Rinse Once a Day
If you have a mix of dental implants and natural teeth, we recommend using a fluoride mouth rinse to help strengthen your tooth enamel. Using mouth rinse helps wash away any residual plaque or food particles that could be left behind after brushing and flossing.
Our dental implant dentist can help you choose a brand that works for you.
See Our Dental Implant Dentist Every 6 Months
We recommend you have a teeth cleaning and oral examination every 6 months to protect your oral health. During a teeth cleaning, one of our dental hygienists will be able to gently scrape away plaque and tartar. Our dentist also uses these appointments to closely monitor the condition of your dental implants.
Conclusion
Dental implants have a higher rate of success when the rest of the mouth is healthy.
Here’s a recap of how to care for your dental implants:
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks.
- Don’t smoke or otherwise use tobacco products.
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Floss your teeth once a day.
- Use a fluoride mouth rinse once a day.
- See our dental implant dentist every 6 months.
If you follow these tips, you’ll help your dental implants last as long as possible.
Request an Appointment With Dr. Yun
Dr. Suk Jun Yun is a dental implant dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, and a member of the International Academy of Dental Implantology. To request an appointment, call the NorthPointe Family Dental & Implant Center at (616) 288-6134.
This blog post has been updated.