Taking Care of Dental Implants at Home

Taking​ ​Care​ ​of​ ​Dental​ ​Implants​ ​at​ ​Home

Restoring​ ​your​ ​dental​ ​health​ ​with​ ​implants​​ ​was​ ​a​ ​wise​ ​decision.​ ​Whether​ ​the​ ​implants​ ​were​ ​the result​ ​of​ ​illness,​ ​injury,​ ​or​ ​prior​ ​poor​ ​dental​ ​care,​ ​you​ ​now​ ​can​ ​eat,​ ​chew,​ ​speak,​ ​and​ ​smile without​ ​pain​ ​or​ ​embarrassment.

Understanding​ ​how​ ​to​ ​properly​ ​care​ ​for​ ​those​ ​implants​ ​will​ ​go​ ​a​ ​long​ ​way​ ​to​ ​making​ ​this

corrective​ ​procedure​ ​last​ ​a​ ​lifetime.​ ​Dental​ ​implant​ ​hygiene​ ​begins​ ​on​ ​the​ ​day​ ​that​ ​the​ ​implants are​ ​inserted​ ​and​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​your​ ​life.​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​ways​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​give your​ ​implants​ ​the​ ​best​ ​healing​ ​environment​ ​before​ ​your​ ​crowns​ ​are​ ​attached.

DAY​ ​OF​ ​DENTAL​ ​IMPLANT​ ​SURGERY

Following​ ​the​ ​implant​ ​surgery,​ ​the​ ​dentist​ ​will​ ​insert​ ​some​ ​medication​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​any​ ​infection and​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​the​ ​healing​ ​process.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​wearing​ ​a​ ​denture,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​placed​ ​over​ ​the

surgical​ ​site.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​be​ ​instructed​ ​on​ ​how​ ​long​ ​to​ ​wear​ ​the​ ​denture​ ​following​ ​the​ ​surgery​ ​to help​ ​prevent​ ​swelling.

Swelling​ ​around​ ​the​ ​surgery​ ​is​ ​very​ ​common​ ​and​ ​typically​ ​subsides​ ​within​ ​48​ ​to​ ​72​ ​hours.​ ​You can​ ​ease​ ​pain​ ​or​ ​swelling​ ​with​ ​an​ ​ice​ ​pack.​ ​Depending​ ​on​ ​your​ ​medical​ ​condition,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​be given​ ​antibiotics​ ​and​ ​pain​ ​medication​ ​to​ ​take​ ​for​ ​several​ ​days​ ​after​ ​surgery.

Do​ ​not​ ​drink​ ​any​ ​hot​ ​beverages​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​24​ ​hours​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​use​ ​a​ ​straw.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​be

instructed​ ​on​ ​how​ ​to​ ​clean​ ​the​ ​area​ ​using​ ​a​ ​gentle​ ​mouthwash​ ​with​ ​sodium​ ​fluoride,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​salt

water​ ​rinse,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​evening.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​brush​ ​and​ ​floss​ ​your​ ​teeth​ ​while​ ​the​ ​surgical site​ ​is​ ​healing.​ ​To​ ​prevent​ ​pressure​ ​on​ ​the​ ​stitches,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​best​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​any​ ​strenuous​ ​work​ ​or exercises​ ​for​ ​a​ ​day​ ​or​ ​two.

FIRST​ ​WEEK​ ​AFTER​ ​DENTAL​ ​IMPLANT​ ​SURGERY

Your​ ​dentist​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​instructions​ ​on​ ​when​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​okay​ ​to​ ​gently​ ​brush​ ​the​ ​surgical​ ​site,

what​ ​type​ ​of​ ​low-abrasive​ ​toothpaste​ ​to​ ​use,​ ​what​ ​foods​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​while​ ​the​ ​site​ ​is​ ​healing,​ ​and when​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​okay​ ​to​ ​resume​ ​any​ ​heavy​ ​lifting​ ​or​ ​exercise​ ​program.

To​ ​assist​ ​the​ ​healing​ ​process,​ ​do​ ​not​ ​touch​ ​the​ ​surgical​ ​site​ ​with​ ​your​ ​fingers​ ​or​ ​your​ ​tongue.​ ​If you​ ​had​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​implant​ ​inserted,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​shown​ ​how​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​small​ ​Interdental​ ​or

Interproximal​ ​brush​ ​to​ ​clean​ ​away​ ​plaque​ ​and​ ​food​ ​particles​ ​from​ ​the​ ​implant​ ​site.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​dip

these​ ​brushes​ ​into​ ​an​ ​antimicrobial​ ​rinse​ ​to​ ​clean​ ​the​ ​implant​ ​crevice​ ​and​ ​the​ ​surrounding​ ​gum tissue.

DAILY​ ​IMPLANT​ ​HOME​ ​CARE​ ​PRIOR​ ​TO​ ​PLACEMENT​ ​OF​ ​CROWNS

Having​ ​the​ ​best​ ​dental​ ​cleaning​ ​products​ ​will​ ​help​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​the​ ​accumulation​ ​of​ ​plaque​ ​and

bacteria​ ​in​ ​and​ ​around​ ​your​ ​implants​ ​between​ ​checkups​ ​with​ ​your​ ​dentist​ ​before​ ​your​ ​crowns are​ ​attached.​ ​You​ ​want​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​soft,​ ​nylon,​ ​bristle​ ​toothbrush,​ ​either​ ​manual​ ​or​ ​electric,​ ​a

non-alcohol​ ​rinse,​ ​an​ ​implant​ ​friendly,​ ​non-abrasive​ ​toothpaste​ ​or​ ​gel​ ​that​ ​does​ ​not​ ​contain stannous​ ​fluoride,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​water​ ​powered​ ​flosser​ ​with​ ​an​ ​adjustable​ ​water​ ​pressure​ ​control.

Your​ ​dentist​ ​may​ ​recommend​ ​the​ ​best​ ​water​ ​flosser​ ​for​ ​your​ ​oral​ ​hygiene.​ ​Some​ ​water​ ​flossers have​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​different​ ​tips​ ​specifically​ ​designed​ ​for​ ​optimum​ ​dental​ ​hygiene.

There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​classic​ ​tip​ ​for​ ​routine​ ​water​ ​powered​ ​flossing,​ ​an​ ​orthodontic​ ​tip​ ​to​ ​help​ ​remove

plaque,​ ​a​ ​special​ ​bristled​ ​tip​ ​to​ ​help​ ​clean​ ​away​ ​bacteria​ ​and​ ​food​ ​particles​ ​around​ ​implants​ ​and other​ ​restorations,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​periodontal​ ​pocket​ ​tip​ ​to​ ​rinse​ ​below​ ​the​ ​gumline.

Even​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​best​ ​dental​ ​cleaning​ ​equipment,​ ​the​ ​most​ ​important​ ​component​ ​is​ ​you.​ ​By

following​ ​a​ ​good​ ​daily​ ​dental​ ​routine,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​helping​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​any​ ​additional​ ​dental​ ​problems.