How to Take Care of Dental Implants to Make Them Last
Key Takeaways:
- Dental implants are durable, but they still require daily care.
- Good oral hygiene is essential to prevent infection and implant failure.
- Routine dental visits and professional cleanings help protect your investment.
- Island Tower Dentistry provides expert implant care in Marco Island.
Dental implants are one of the most functionally practical, realistic-looking, and feeling prosthetic replacement options for missing teeth. Dental implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone and capped by dental crowns that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. A process known as osseointegration, in which the implant’s titanium alloy fuses naturally with the bone, strengthens its placement, allowing for decades of bite pressure and use.
“With a 90%-plus success ratio, dental implants have an edge over removable dentures and dental bridges,” says Marco Island, Florida, dentist Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke. “Additionally, they help prevent further jawbone loss and require less maintenance than dentures and bridges.”
“However,” says his partner dentist at Island Tower Dentistry, Dr. Ryan Whelen, “dental implants should be given the same care and attention as natural teeth to ensure their long-lasting function and realistic-looking appearance.”
Here are Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Whelan’s top tips on how to take care of dental implants to make them last for decades:
Why Implant Maintenance Matters
The properties of the titanium implants and abutting crowns make them impervious to potential tooth decay faced by natural teeth. However, gum tissue, bone, and natural teeth surrounding implants remain at risk. If they become affected by decay and/or gum disease, it can compromise the health and stability of the implants. A lack of proper dental hygiene can lead to a condition similar to gum disease known as peri-implantitis, in which the gum and bone tissue around the implant degrades, possibly leading to premature implant failure.
Daily Care Tips for Dental Implants
If you want to preserve the health, function, and appearance of your implants for decades, Drs. Van Dyke and Whelan recommend the following daily oral care tips:
Brush Twice a Day
Treat your dental implants and abutting crowns just like you would your natural teeth by gently brushing twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. While brushing, ensure that you give special attention to the gumline and all around the implant areas.
Floss Daily Around the Implant
Much like the gum-disease precursors of bacteria and plaque tend to build up between natural teeth and below the gumline, they’ll do the same around implants. Thus, it’s essential to floss implant areas daily with an implant-friendly dental floss or to clean these areas with an ADA-approved water flosser.
Rinse with Antibacterial Mouthwash
To further reduce the risk of gum disease and peri-implantitis, attack the causes at the source by rinsing daily with an antibacterial mouthwash. Clinically proven to reduce bacteria levels that can contribute to gum disease, as well as inflammation, daily antibacterial rinses are especially critical for those with a previous history of gum issues.
Foods to Avoid (and What’s OK to Enjoy)
Skip Hard, Sticky, or Crunchy Foods at First
After your implant surgery and during the months-long osseointegration period, there are certain food items you should avoid to promote healing and prevent implant complications and damage to crowns. These include:
- Hard foods like nuts, hard candies, and raw carrots.
- Sticky foods like caramel, taffy, and chewing gum.
- Crunchy or sharp foods, such as chips, popcorn, and crusty bread.
- Acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar-based items.
- Sugary foods and drinks may promote bacterial growth.
- Ice (if chewed).
After Healing, Eat Normally, But with Care
Your dentist can advise you on when you can return to normal eating patterns, but even though your implants and crowns will function like natural teeth, your food choices still matter, and you should always chew with care.
Long-Term Habits for Implant Health
Don’t Skip Dental Visits
Much like biannual dental exams and cleanings help preserve your natural teeth and gums, they are critical for protecting the health and longevity of your dental implants. Regular checkups help detect any issues affecting your implants before they become a significant problem. In contrast, professional dental cleaning helps prevent the buildup of bacteria and plaque, especially in areas that are challenging for brushing and flossing to reach.
Quit Smoking
If you smoke, your dentist will strongly encourage you to quit before you undergo implant surgery. Long-term smokers have lower implant success rates, and smoking reduces blood flow and oxygen to tissues, which will slow the healing and osseointegration process after surgery. It also promotes bacterial growth and weakens the immune response, making the gums surrounding the implants more susceptible to inflammation and infection. Of course, smoking will also mar the appearance of your new crowns with tobacco staining.
Wear a Night Guard if You Grind Your Teeth
If you grind your teeth at night, you should already be wearing a night guard to protect them. Much like grinding can damage natural teeth and the underlying supporting bone, it can also damage implants and crowns.
How Island Tower Dentistry Supports Implant Patients
Island Tower Dentistry is proud of the restored smiles we provide our Marco Island, Florida, patients with advanced dental implant technology and expert placement for the most natural-looking appearance. As such, we provide comfort-first care for every stage of our patients’ dental implant journey, and provide diligent aftercare with ongoing checkups and cleanings customized for each patient.
If you’ve been thinking about replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, or are interested in protecting your current implants with optimal professional dental care, the implant experts at Island Tower Dentistry would be glad to meet with you to assess your implant needs. For the best in Implant surgery and care in Southwest Florida, contact Island Tower Dentistry at 239-394-1004 to schedule a consultation.
FAQ: How to Take Care of Dental Implants
To properly clean dental implants at home, brush twice a day using a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Floss daily with implant-specific floss or a water flosser to remove plaque between the implant and gumline. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce bacteria and inflammation. Regular oral hygiene helps prevent infection and extends the life of your dental implants.
Yes, dental implants can become infected if not cleaned properly. A condition called peri-implantitis, similar to gum disease, can develop around the implant, leading to inflammation, bone loss, and implant failure. Maintaining good oral hygiene and scheduling regular dental checkups are essential to preventing infection and preserving implant health.
After getting dental implants, avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods such as ice, nuts, hard candies, and chewing gum, especially during the healing period. These can stress or damage the implant site. Once fully healed, most patients can return to a normal diet, but it’s still best to minimize excessive pressure and avoid biting hard objects to protect your implants long term.
Dental implants require similar daily care as natural teeth, but with extra attention to the surrounding gum tissue. While implants cannot get cavities, the gums and bone supporting them can develop infections if not properly maintained. Special tools like implant-safe floss or interdental brushes may be recommended for thorough cleaning.
Patients with dental implants should visit the dentist at least every 6 months for professional cleanings and implant checkups. In some cases, more frequent visits may be recommended, especially if the patient has a history of gum disease or other risk factors. These visits help monitor implant stability, detect early signs of inflammation, and keep your gums and bone healthy.