Have you recently undergone a dental implant surgery and are worried about the aftercare procedures for your dental implants? Well! Dental implants are for those who have lost or damaged some of their teeth. It not only provides a good look and feel but also promotes better functionality, similar to natural teeth.

To keep your dental implants healthy for life, dental implant cleaning is essential. When you fail to do so, it may enhance the risk for peri-implantitis. This inflammatory condition impacts both soft and hard tissues surrounding the implant—uncovered peri-implantitis results in bone and dental implant loss.

So, it's essential to know how to keep your dental implant clean and hygienic

1.Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

Soft bristles of your toothbrush cause more minor damage to your gums and help eliminate tartar and plague than medium or stiff bristles. Electric toothbrushes are used to prevent and remove bacteria from the teeth. An electric toothbrush creates a more number of strokes than a manual toothbrush. No matter which toothbrush you are using, always keep in mind that the bristles of your toothbrush must be soft.

2. Brush two times a day

Brushing before you go to bed helps eliminate bacteria that build up throughout the day and helps decrease the risk of plague and decay. When you wake up and brush, it assists in removing morning breath and removes all bacteria formed in your mouth overnight. It helps keep your dental implant free from all kinds of decay.

3. Make use of a water flosser

A water flosser prohibits and eliminates bacteria from the pocket up to a depth of about 4mm. It will not replace regular floss. But keep in mind not to use water floss aggressively, as it can lead to gum recession and periodontal abscess in those suffering from Periodontitis.

4. Make use of crown and bridge floss

Crown and bridge floss is designed for scrubbing under and across dental implant dentistry. The rigid end lets you insert the floss between dental implants on the gum line and take it to the other side. You can also bend it against the implant-supported denture surface and rub it on the side.

5. Always use toothpaste that is low-abrasive

People who have done dental implants must use less abrasive (grainy or gritty thick) toothpaste because those elements can wear on acrylic and eliminate the glaze from the porcelain dental implant.

6. Do not forget to brush under and around your dental implant crown

Bacteria and plague might start accumulating below and around your implant-supported denture crown to enhance the risk of peri-implantitis. To access these areas, try to use an angle-necked toothbrush or an inter-brush having a thin head.

How to clean all-on-four dental implants?

For all-on-four dental implant dentistry, the users need to follow the same steps for cleaning dental tooth implants. However, you may require a few more additional steps

1. Make use of a rubber tip stimulator

Rub tip stimulator for keeping your teeth clean

Some water flossers come with rubber tip steelers that can slowly remove food particles trapped between the bridge and the gum line. Make use of the attachment in your water flosser a minimum of once a day to remove the food debris and bacteria from all-on-4 dental implants.

2. Utilize a sulcus brush

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A sulcus brush is one-third of the regular toothbrush width and is suitable for cleaning that part of the bridge that transforms into soft tissue.

How to clean the overdentures?

Brush your overdentures daily: Use a denture brush to brush the overdentures gently at least once a day. A denture brush consists of two heads with a soft-bristled flat head for brushing smooth surfaces and a single tuft head with taped bristles that can easily reach areas that are hard to get. Please do not use toothpaste as it will scratch the overdenture surface.

1. Soak your dentures overnight

While going to bed, you can keep your overdenture in a cleaning solution specially made for dentures, and you can soak them overnight. It helps keep the overdentures clean and also assists them in maintaining their shape.

2. Rinse it thoroughly with water

Rub the overdenture thoroughly using water before placing it back in your mouth. It decreases the risk of any side effects after resolving pain and burning.

3. Keep an eye on the overdentures regularly

You need to check the overdenture daily to ensure the O-ring, clip, and locator cap are well in place and in good condition. Talk to your dentist immediately if any parts look bad or are missing.

Dentures supported by dental implants might not decay, but the gums and supporting bone needs proper care to prevent bacteria decay, infection, and inflammation. After you are done with the dental implant procedure, you must do regular cleaning and go for a timely checkup at a dentist. You can get access to top dentists at India’s Largest Dental Network for all your dental problems. Log in to Mydentalplan and tips on how to take good care of your dental health.

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About the Author:

Suprithi Choudhary, M.Pharm (Pharmacology) Medical Content writer

Suprithi is a Pharma Professional working as a medical content writer and previously worked as a Research Scientist and Senior Research Analyst

Education

• C.M Academy
• Attended the Panjab University- Chandigarh, Pharma post-graduate in Pharmacology

Special thanks to Dr Deepak Kulkarni, a dental surgeon with over 23 years of experience who proofread this blog. He graduated from the H.K.E's Dental College, Gulbarga, and has certifications in ACHS International Accreditation Education Plan; Advanced Rotary Endodontic - Restorative Continuum; and Leadership, Team Building and Customer Service Leadership from the Oscar Murphy International.