Tips for Cleaning Dental Implants at Home

Good oral hygiene must take place before, during, and after placement of dental implants to ensure the health of the implant.

Patients are concerned about what kind of maintenance their implants will require. Should I brush and floss their implants like regular teeth? Does food get underneath the implant?

These are Dr. Antonio Lopez’ top tips for cleaning dental implants at home for those with concerns about an individualized home-care routine.

Routine Cleaning for Dental Implants

In most cases, the day-to-day care of implants is no more complicated than the normal brushing, flossing and at-home care you employ for your natural set of teeth.

But what about the areas you cannot see?

Dental implants, made of titanium, replace the natural root structure of the missing tooth. They are “anchored” into surrounding bone and tissue, and designed to support the working teeth or dentures attached to the implanted foundation. There is a possibility that food particles and bacteria can become entrenched in areas surrounding the implant, leading to plaque formation and possible infection of surrounding gum tissue. For this reason, as we already stated, it is very important to see your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups.

Periodic removal by a skilled professional of the threaded screw-retained implant bridge is recommended.

A dentist can then survey the surrounding tissue to make certain the gum and other teeth in the area are disease free. This procedure allows us to clean, sanitize and inspect the prosthesis, and is no more invasive than a routine appointment. But with reasonable care, a dental implant, or a full set of implants can last for decades, provide a natural look, preserve the integrity of surrounding teeth, and be worry-free.

The Tri-Cities Dental Care team will take special precautions when cleaning, utilizing both familiar techniques and gentle probing to assure that the implant is secure, aligned and serving its purpose. Cleaning dental implants, both the visible tooth and the portion below the gum, is important, but it should not be worrisome.

Dental Implants and Gum Health

Plaque and bacteria that form around an implant can cause inflammation and lead to peri-implant diseases, such as peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. Daily cleaning of all the surfaces above and below the gumline is critical to preventing peri-implant disease.

he Waterpik® Water Flosser with the Pik PocketTM Tip is ideal for cleaning below the gumline. This soft tip is placed slightly under the gumline, and the gentle pulsations of water or therapeutic solutions flush out bacteria.

Ready to make a change?

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation online today with Dr. Lopez in Kennewick WA to see if dental implants are right for you.