Dental implants are the only restorations directly embedded into your jaw for added strength and stability. They consist of a titanium pole surgically placed into your jawbone that’s capped with a dental crown (or another appropriate prosthetic) customized to match your natural smile. Usually made of durable porcelain or composite resin, your artificial teeth can’t get cavities.
However, that doesn’t mean you no longer have to be concerned with your oral health. Maintaining a regular at-home hygiene routine of brushing and flossing twice daily is essential to clear away plaque and bacteria. Otherwise, germs can thrive and cause issues like gum disease, which can eventually cause your implant to fail.
If you’re unsure of the best way to floss with it in place, continue reading to learn 3 helpful tips to keep them happy and healthy!
Tip #1: Be Gentle
When you floss your natural teeth, you’re able to push the string into the gum pocket without damaging your gums. This is because the connective tissues adhere strongly to your enamel through a periodontal ligament. It contains nerves that send pain signals to your brain if you’ve pushed too far under your gumline, so you know it’s time to ease up.
Your dental implant doesn’t have this organic ligament and instead relies on a peri-implant seal to remain in place. It doesn’t contain nerves to let you know if you’re pushing too hard which, unfortunately, means that it can be broken easily if you’re not careful. This allows bacteria to enter the gum pocket around your implant and penetrate your jawbone to cause infection. To prevent this, never push the floss into the gum pocket of your dental implant.
Tip #2: Use the Right Product
Everyone’s circumstances are unique, and if you have mobility challenges or difficulty manipulating small objects, you might avoid flossing because it’s too complicated. Thankfully, there are many different types, so finding an option that works for you is easy. For instance, if you struggle with wrapping waxed string around your fingers, you might opt for flossers with handles to control them more easily. Other patients prefer water flossers that rely on a stream of high-pressure H2O to loosen and dislodge unwanted particles gently.
You can try different methods until you find one you can regularly include in your dental hygiene routine.
Tip #3: Clean All Sides
Removing germs from all sides of your dental implant is essential to keeping it clean, and it might require some extra attention. If you’re using traditional floss, wrap it around your tooth in a C-shape and gently glide it up and down several times. Then, lift it up and over your gum tissue to move on to the next tooth. For those using flossers, remember to slide it around all sides of your tooth to remove residue buildup.
Now that you know more about flossing with dental implants, you can keep them in great shape for years to come!
About the Practice
At Weiss Dental Arts, patients benefit from two dentists who work together to offer a full range of services at one convenient location. Dr. Weiss and Dr. Fulreader share 20+ years of combined experience, so there’s no issue too simple or complex for them to handle. They have specialized training and state-of-the-art equipment to see you through each step of the implant process, including the surgical placement, in the office. If you’re considering replacement teeth or are concerned about gum disease, you can request an appointment on the website or call (847) 864-0188.