If you have new All-on-4 dental implants, you might think that they don't require dental hygiene – including brushing, flossing, and dental visits. However, that's not the case. In fact, your dental implants will require daily cleaning, with the proper tools.
Choose the Right Toothbrush
If you used a medium or firm toothbrush for your natural teeth, and now you're using the same toothbrush on your dental implants, you might be doing more harm than good. While your implants are durable, they do need special care. To care for your dental implants, toss the medium to firm toothbrushes, and switch to one with soft bristles. This is important whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush. It's also important that you spend a few extra minutes brushing your teeth. For maximum benefit, and to keep your gums healthy, brush your teeth for about three minutes twice a day.
Get the Hard-to-Reach Places
If your back molars have been replaced by dental implants, they can be difficult to get clean using a basic toothbrush. Those small spaces between your implants can be tough to get clean with a toothbrush, as well. That's where an interdental brush comes in handy. The small wire bristles of your interdental brush will reach into those hard-to-reach spaces, which will remove plaque and bacteria that can lead to bad breath and gum problems. To keep your dental implants as clean as possible, use your interdental brush each time you brush your teeth.
Always Irrigate the Area
If you have a hard time keeping your implants clean, or you simply want to make sure that your mouth stays clean, it's time to add an irrigation device to your list of dental hygiene products. An irrigation device will send a gentle stream of water around your teeth and below the gum line. Using your irrigation device several times a day will remove bacteria and debris that ordinary brushing misses. Irrigation devices are particularly beneficial at preventing your gums from receding, which is a common problem after dental implant surgery.
Antibacterial Mouth Rinse
If you're not using an antibacterial mouth rinse at least twice a day, you're short-changing yourself on your dental hygiene. Using an antibacterial mouth rinse each time you brush and floss, will keep your mouth clean and reduce inflammation and redness in your gums. It will also kill the bacteria that can cause bad breath.
If you've recently undergone oral surgery for All-on-4 dental implants, use the techniques provided here to keep your implants, gums, and mouth as clean as possible. For other tips on how to care for your implants, be sure to talk to your dentist or check out websites like http://www.accentdentalnwi.com/.
