What Patients Should Know About Dental Implants and Flossing
If you are missing a tooth or multiple teeth, there are many different dental health problems that can arise. For one, there's the issue of aesthetics. Smiles simply don't look their best when you're missing a tooth or multiple teeth. In addition, eating your favorite foods can become difficult even from the loss of just a single tooth. There are also problems of bone loss, gum recession, and tooth misalignment that can occur as a result of the gaps between the teeth.
One sure way to address all of these issues is to meet with a skilled cosmetic dentist and go over all of your options for restorative dental care. One great option to consider is implant dentistry.
About Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the jawbone and gum tissue in a patient's mouth. This helps prevent issues with bone loss and gum recession, and also allows for the best possible hold of dental restorations, whether they be individual dental crowns, dental bridges, or dentures.
Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants
The best candidates for dental implants are people who have sufficient bone structure and gum tissue in place. They should be in good overall health since oral surgery is involved and should also have realistic expectations about the procedure and what it can achieve. It's equally important that patients be committed to proper hygiene and aftercare of their dental implants.
Proper Dental Hygiene of Dental Implants is Crucial
Issues with plaque, food particles, and potential bacterial infection can all affect the health of your dental implants, which is why proper hygiene of the dental implants is so important. Since dental implants are much different than normal teeth, there are special considerations when it comes to proper care.
How to Floss When You Have Dental Implants
You can use regular floss for this or special dental floss that has a soft, spongy section. Your dentist may recommend the latter in some instances. Either will work.
Saw the floss between the implant restoration and your natural tooth as you usually would. Work the floss under the implant restoration to the implant itself and carefully move the floss back and forth against the implant to dislodge food particles and plaque. Next, carefully work the floss back around and out the space and repeat the process on the other side of the dental implant.
Be sure to floss at least every night, though ideally after every meal.
How to Brush Your Teeth When You Have Dental Implants
Brushing your dental implant is equally important. This can be accomplished with that special floss as mentioned above or with a special interdental brush, which is a single thin brush on the end of a holder. Like the special floss, the interdental brush may be recommended to you by your dentist. Both of these items are relatively easy to come by at your local drugstore.
Be sure to brush at least twice a day, though ideally after every meal.
Learn More About Implant Dentistry
If you would like to learn more about dental implants and your many other options for advanced restorative dentistry treatment, be sure to contact our Staten Island dental care center today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve optimal dental wellness in the process.