What Our Houston Cosmetic Dentist Recommends For Dental Implant Care

Getting dental implants is a very common procedure at our Houston cosmetic dentist office. Not only do implants fill in gaps from missing permanent teeth, but in doing so they help restore and protect your facial structure and your other teeth. Since dental implants are so vital to your oral health, it is imperative that you know how to properly take care of them. This is what we recommend in order to prolong the health of your smile.

Gently Brush Your Teeth With a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

We recommend for dental implant patients to switch to a soft-bristled brush if they don’t already use one. Manual brushes are effective, but if you want to invest a little more money and get an electric toothbrush for a deeper clean, that is okay too as long as the brush head is made of soft bristles. We insist on using soft-bristled toothbrushes because they are more gentle on the gums, yet effectively remove plaque build-up.

Use Special Dental Floss

Search for unwaxed tape, dental implant tape, or dental crown floss. These are all suitable for implants because, when used nightly, they are effective at getting into hard-to-reach spots in your teeth. If you have a single implant, for example, this floss will ensure you get all the plaque underneath the porcelain crown, ensuring you don’t put yourself at risk of infection.

Brush Your Teeth At Least Twice a Day With Non-Abrasive Toothpaste

Just as important as the type of bristles you use is how often you brush your teeth and the kind of toothpaste you use. We recommend at the very least to brush your teeth when you wake up and again right before bed. This is because, with implants, you must be extra careful to ensure you don’t develop an infection from bacteria that remains in your mouth. However, it is also acceptable to brush more than twice a day, after each meal. As for the toothpaste you use, be sure to avoid ingredients such as baking soda, which are commonly found in whitening toothpastes. These kinds of ingredients can scratch the surface of your dental implant crown and wear it down.

Don’t Forget Your Semiannual Dental Cleanings

As always, it is important that you continue to come in for your regular cleanings. This will help us continuously ensure your dental implant is in good condition, as is the rest of your oral health. Additionally, our dental cleanings offer a deeper cleaning than what you get at home.

Our Cosmetic Dentists at Victory Smiles Will Happily Advise You on Dental Implant Care

If you have recently healed from dental implant surgery, please book an appointment with us so we can check up on your healing and perform a cleaning. We will also further educate you on the best flossing and brushing techniques to keep your smile bright and healthy.