Cleaning Dental Implants and Restorations
The difference between a beautiful smile and an unappealing one often comes down to how well you take care of your teeth. What about your dental work, though? Do dental restorations need as rigorous a cleaning regimen? It turns out they do.
Cleaning dental implants and restorations is just as important as cleaning your natural teeth. At our practice in Staten Island, NY, Dr. Alex Hecht and Dr. Jason Hecht provide top-quality dental implants to treat tooth loss. Here are some helpful tips on how to take care of your dental implants and restorations so they can last for years to come.
Brush and Floss Regularly
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily remain key components to a healthy mouth. This does not change when you get dental implants. While implants and crowns are more resistant to bacterial damage, they rely on surrounding gum and bone tissue to remain in place.
Flossing and proper gum health maintenance is crucial in keeping your implants and restorations well rooted and secure. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid irritation to your gums, and floss with care to avoid inflammation. A soft-bristled toothbrush also reduces wear on the dental restorations as well as any remaining natural teeth.
Use a Non-Abrasive or Low-Abrasive Toothpaste
Your dental implants are durable but still susceptible to scratching from rough surfaces. This is why we recommend patients use a non-abrasive or low-abrasive toothpaste. Combined with a soft-bristle toothbrush, these less abrasive toothpastes will clean your teeth, restorations, and implants gently.
Visit the Dentist for Routine Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings at checkups is also important for good oral hygiene. Dentists and dental hygienists are highly trained in removing plaque and tartar from hard to reach places of the mouth. That includes the areas around the dental implant. We recommend visiting your dentist for a cleaning at least once every six months.
Avoid Using Metal Oral Hygiene Instruments
Many pharmacies will sell dental instruments that are supposed to help you clean your teeth. These can often do more harm than good if you’ve never used them before. Without training, you can damage your teeth or gums. On top of that, while metal instruments can damage dental crowns, bridges, and dentures.
Leave the specialized dental cleanings to the professionals at our Staten Islandpractice. You will save yourself many headaches down the line, and keep your dental implants and implant restorations durable.
Cleaning and Soaking Your Dentures
When cleaning your implant-supported denture, take extra care handling the restoration so it does not fall and break. Clean off all food particles using warm water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Be thorough to access the nooks and crannies of the denture.
Soaking your denture at night will help prevent warping. There are many overnight denture cleaners available that will help cleanse the denture and keep it fresh and clean.
Reach Out Today
If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out and ask our team. The team at our Staten Island practice will provide answers and insight.. Give us a call at (718) 705-4434 or send us a message online to schedule an appointment today.