Proper dental implant care is non-negotiable. From brushing and flossing to professional cleanings, these evidence-backed steps keep your implants functional for life.
Want to keep your dental implants forever?
98.6% of dental implants are still functional five years post-insertion. The problem is most people don’t know how to properly care for them.
Without the right care routine, even the best dental implants can fail, which is why…
Implant care must be:
- Simple
- Easy
- Inexpensive
…and you’ll still pay big money if you do it wrong.
But you don’t have to know the right care methods…
Why Proper Implant Care Matters More Than You Think
Dental implant care is the difference between a lifetime investment and an expensive mistake.
With the right maintenance, you can enjoy your dental implants for decades. In fact, research shows that when properly cared for, 4 out of 5 implants last 20 years or more.
Don’t be fooled by those impressive success rates though…
Here’s the real deal: Those statistics only apply to people who follow proper care protocols. Fail to give your expensive implants a decent maintenance routine and you’ve just transformed your investment into an expensive failure.
Consider this: You wouldn’t buy a luxury sports car, then never change the oil. The same should go for your teeth. Whether you’re thinking about traditional dental implants or all on four implants, proper dental care is non-negotiable for long-term success.
Proper dental implant care helps you:
- Avoid peri-implantitis: Also known as gum disease for implants, peri-implantitis is the number one cause of implant failure. It’s 100% preventable with a proper care routine.
- Maintain jawbone health: You want your jawbone to stay healthy and strong to support your implants. Good oral hygiene is key to ensuring that happens.
- Save thousands in replacement costs: A single dental implant replacement can easily cost more than the initial treatment. Prevention is far cheaper than replacement.
The Daily Care Routine That Actually Works
The best dental implant care routine is simpler than you think.
Here’s what you need to do:
Brush Like Your Life Depends On It
Brush your dental implants the same way you would your natural teeth. The difference is that…
- You need a soft-bristled toothbrush. Stiff bristles can scratch the implant surface and make it easier for bacteria to take hold. Brush twice daily for two minutes at a time.
- You must never use whitening toothpaste. The abrasive agents in those toothpastes will damage the implant crown. Regular fluoride toothpaste is just fine.
Floss Every Single Day
This is where most people go wrong. They think they can leave off the flossing because implants are “artificial.”
WRONG.
The space around your implant actually requires more flossing than natural teeth do. Bacteria love to hide in the little nooks and crannies around your implants. If you don’t floss, they’ll be sure to let you know.
Use unwaxed floss or special implant floss. Make sure to clean all sides of each implant.
Water Flossers Are Your Best Friend
Water flossers can get to places regular floss can’t. Plus, they’re especially useful for cleaning under bridges and around the implant crown.
Use a water flosser every day after flossing. Set it on medium pressure. Higher can damage your gums.
Don’t Skip The Antimicrobial Rinse
Antimicrobial mouthwash will kill bacteria that even good brushing and flossing miss. Use it twice daily after brushing.
Look for alcohol-free formulas. Alcohol can be harsh on healing tissues around dental implants.
Common Mistakes That Destroy Implants
Let me tell you the worst things people do to cause expensive dental implant failures…
Smoking
Smoking is the quickest way to ruin your expensive new implants. It reduces blood flow to your gums and impedes healing. Smokers have implant failure rates 20% higher than nonsmokers.
If you smoke, quit before you get your dental implants. If you already have them, quit now.
Grinding Your Teeth
Teeth grinding can put dangerous levels of pressure on your implants. This can loosen the implant or even crack the crown.
If you grind, get a night guard as soon as possible. They’re an investment that will pay for themselves many times over.
Using Your Implants As Tools
Don’t open bottles, crack nuts, or chew ice with your dental implants. They’re incredibly strong, but even they have their breaking point.
Treat your new implants like expensive jewelry, not tools.
Ignoring Regular Checkups
Skipping dental visits is like playing Russian roulette with your beautiful new smile. Problems that are easily fixed early become expensive nightmares later.
Regular checkups are absolutely critical.
Professional Maintenance: What Your Dentist Won’t Tell You
The bottom line is most dentists don’t tell their patients all of this about professional implant care…
You Need Special Cleanings
Standard dental cleanings are insufficient for implants. You need to get cleanings that use special tools that can’t scratch the implant surface.
Your hygienist should be using plastic or carbon fiber instruments around your implants. Metal scrapes the coating right off.
X-rays Are Critical
Your dentist should be getting X-rays of your dental implants at least once a year. They can show bone loss or other problems before you even know they exist.
Ask for periapical X-rays of each implant. These show the best view of bone health around the implant.
Professional Monitoring Saves Money
A good dental team will monitor your implants for early warning signs. They check for:
- Gum health around implants
- Bone levels on X-rays
- Implant stability
- Crown condition
This monitoring will spot small problems that are still easy and cheap to fix.
Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore
If you experience any of these, call your dentist and make an appointment NOW:
- Bleeding gums around implants: A sure sign of early peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is very treatable when caught early. Neglect it and you could lose the implant.
- Loose crown or bridge: If your implant restoration feels loose, stop using it and call your dentist. A loose crown can damage the implant beneath.
- Pain or discomfort: Dental implants shouldn’t hurt when they’re healthy. Pain could indicate infection, a loose component, or some other serious problem.
- Bad taste or smell: This is a sure sign of bacterial infection around your implant. It needs immediate treatment.
- Gum recession: You can see more of the implant than before, that means your gums are receding. Gum recession exposes the implant to bacteria.
Wrapping It All Together
Caring for your dental implants isn’t hard. The truth is that good dental implant care is just good oral hygiene you take seriously.
Here’s the rundown:
- Brush twice daily with a soft brush
- Floss daily without fail
- Use a water flosser and antimicrobial rinse
- Don’t smoke or grind your teeth
- Attend all professional cleanings and checkups
- Know the warning signs and act quickly
Your dental implants are an investment in your quality of life. With proper dental implant care, they can last a lifetime. Neglect them and you’re gambling away thousands of dollars and your smile.
It’s really your choice. You take care of your dental implants or they won’t last.
