How to Care For Your New Dental Implants

Did you just restore your smile to its former glory with dental implants? If so, you’ve just made an investment in not just your smile and oral health but your overall health, too. Dental implants are an ideal solution for those who have lost a tooth or multiple teeth due to factors like tooth decay, dental trauma, injuries or gum disease. They are a natural-looking tooth replacement solution that offers many benefits ranging from durability to longevity and improved functionality. 

In order to ensure the longevity of your dental implants, it’s important to take proper care of them. The great thing is that care and maintenance of your implants don’t involve much. It’s as easy as taking care of your natural teeth!

Here are some essential dental implant care tips for you to follow to enjoy your restored smile for years to come: 

1. Post-Operative Aftercare

If you’ve just gotten your dental implants, there are a few things you need to know about post-surgery aftercare. So, here are some tips on the dos and don’ts after implant surgery: 

• Do not rinse, spit or drink through a straw for at least 12 hours post-surgery
• Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 48 hours after surgery
• Gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater 24 hours after surgery
• Brush your mouth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush after 24 hours
• Maintain a soft food or liquid diet for 1-2 days following the surgery
• Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for at least 24 hours
• Get plenty of rest

2. Brush and floss your teeth daily 

Just like your natural teeth, your implants, too, benefit greatly from daily brushing and flossing. Clean your implants with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid using abrasive toothpaste to prevent damage to the surface of your implants. We recommend using a soft nylon brush with pliable and gentle bristles after getting implants. Ensure to also floss your teeth to prevent plaque build-up around your implants. Pay special attention to the sides of the implants when flossing because food and plaque often build up in this area. 

3. Avoid hard and sticky foods

Certain food items can pose a risk to your new implants. These include hard and sticky food items. This is because biting into hard and sticky foods can exert excessive force on the implant, and food particles can also get lodged between the implant and the gums. So, if you just got dental implants, it’s best to avoid eating ice, hard nuts, hard candy, carrots, caramel and steak until your mouth heals.

4. Be mindful of your lifestyle choices 

Your lifestyle habits can also impact the durability and longevity of implants. Excessive alcohol consumption can hinder the success of your implant surgery and also speed up plaque accumulation. Smoking can slow down the healing process and stain your implants, affecting the appearance of your new smile. So, it’s best to avoid or cut down on smoking and alcohol after getting your new implants. 

5. Visit your dentist regularly 

Regular visits to the dentist are essential for proper maintenance of your implants. We recommend scheduling dental check-ups at least every 6 months. This allows us to monitor progress, clean your dental restorations and detect any problems as soon as they arise, ensuring prompt treatment. These check-ups also enable us to keep an eye out for peri-implantitis. This condition causes soft tissue inflammation and a gradual deterioration of the bone surrounding the dental implant. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your dental implants, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team at Port Melbourne Dental. We will provide personalised advice and guidance on how to take care of your implants to ensure their longevity, function, and aesthetic appearance.How to Care For Your New Dental Implants