How to take care of dental implants?

Dental implants are becoming an extremely common act these days as it is considered as something
which adds to the beauty of your face. Getting a dental implant is not as easy as it looks. It’s a surgery
which requires time and a lot of care after it’s done. After getting a dental implant there are a certain
do’s and donot’s that we are going to discuss in this article.

Cleaning at home

This is the simplest and the easiest way of making sure that your implants are healthy and last
longer. Cleaning at home is very important after the surgery as the implants are relatively new. But
the most important question that arises is how do we clean implants at home? Basically it’s nothing
different than cleaning your teeth. Simply Brush, Floss and use non-alcoholic mouth wash to rinse
and make sure to perform this cycle every day. Although cleaning the implants at home is pretty
similar to cleaning your teeth but implants are never the less artificial teeth which means that tiny
food particles and bacteria can get stuck around the areas which cannot be reached thus leading to
the formation of plaque which if not treated on time can turn into a nasty infection. To help prevent
the formation of plaque and infections the following instruments can be used.

Interproximal Brushes:

Using any kind of toothbrushes is fine until the brush is soft-bristled. There is no difference when
using sonic, electric, and manual or any other type of brushes so using any of these according to
your comfort level is fine.

Floss:

Choosing from so many different types of floss can be a difficult task but renowned dentists like
Dr.Matt Laurich and Dr. Dennis Laurich recommend using unwaxed tape or floss specifically for
implants, ensuring that the surrounding tissue is best protected. But it is better to check in with your
dentist about what floss suits your implant the most.

Oral Irrigators:

We at Laurich Dentistry highly recommend all our patients to use oral irrigators also known as water
flossers as they can really help in reducing plaque and inflammation. The best water flossers are the
ones with a non-metal tip. They produce best results when used with non-alcoholic antimicrobial
rinse.
Stimulators:

Stimulators encourage healthy gum tissues which can be crucial in maintaining a dental implant. The
stimulators which have a rubber-tip are highly recommended as they are gentle on the gums.

Professional Dental Implant Cleaning

Although cleaning your implants at home on a daily basis is important but getting them cleaned by a
professional periodically is equally important. There are some areas in the implants that cannot be
cleaned at home hence a professional will thoroughly clean the threads of the implant, surrounding
tissue, and your natural teeth which will help in keeping away bacteria thus reducing the chances of
an infection. It is also good for the dentist to check the overall condition and alignment of the
implant. If you are looking for a much thorough cleaning of the implants, then your hygienist will
probably incorporate scaling a method which cleans much deeper than the surface of the tooth. A
lot of cases of the implants that we see are of people that do not know how to maintain and clean
dental implants properly. If not cleaned properly, dental implants can start bleeding hence it is
important to carefully follow the instructions given to you by your dentist.

Dental Implant Care 48 hours after placement

The first 48 hours after the surgery are the most important as this is the time when the symptoms
are most pronounced. It’s important to keep firm but gentle pressure on the gauze packs after the
first hour after surgery to keep them in place.

Make sure not to change out the gauze until after the first hour. If you have bleeding that doesn’t
stop, put the new gauze in place for 30 mins and then switch it out. Do this every 30 to 45 mins.

Few common symptoms that you’ll see on the first 48 hours are:

 Oozing
 Persistent Bleeding
 Swelling
 Pain

To help your recovery go smoothly follow these tips:

 Don’t disturb the surgical areas

 Brush your teeth with a gentle toothbrush
 After the first 24 hours rinse with salt water 2-3 times a day.
 Rest and apply ice if needed.