Are you considering replacing your natural teeth with implants, bridges, or dentures? If so, congratulations on making a decision that will give you back the ability to enjoy eating different types of food and having an improved appearance. However, dental hygiene is still essential for properly maintaining these artificial forms of teeth. Taking proper care of your implants, bridges, or dentures can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, or worse — having to replace them prematurely. Read on to learn some valuable tips on how to keep your new teeth looking fresh and beautiful.
10 Tips To Follow To Take Care Of Implants, Bridges & Dentures
The best Oklahoma City dentists have come up with the ten most effective ways to take proper care of dental implants, bridges, and dentures.
Tip 1. Brush Regularly
As with natural teeth, it’s essential to brush your implants, bridges, and dentures twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you wear full or partial dentures, be sure to remove them before brushing. For easy cleaning of partial dentures or individual teeth implants/bridges, use an interdental brush or floss threader to clean around the gum line and between the teeth.
Tip 2. Use A Non-abrasive Toothpaste
It’s important to use toothpaste that is specifically formulated for dental devices such as implants or bridges. Make sure it is non-abrasive so it won’t damage the surface of the device over time.
Tip 3. Rinse After Eating
When you have food particles stuck on your dental devices like implants or bridges, it can cause plaque buildup, which can ultimately lead to decay and gum disease over time. Rinsing your mouth after eating will help remove any food particles that might be stuck on your dental devices.
Tip 4. Avoid Sticky Food Items
Sticky foods like caramel or taffy can get stuck in the crevices of your dental devices and be difficult to remove without damaging them. So try to avoid these types of foods if possible.
Tip 5. Use An Antibacterial Mouthwash
Using an antibacterial mouthwash regularly helps reduce plaque buildup on your dental devices, which can help prevent decay and gum disease over time. It can also be an effective way to freshen your breath.
Tip 6. Avoid Chewing On Hard Objects
Chewing on hard objects like pens or ice cubes can damage your dental devices by causing cracks or chips in them over time. So try not to chew on hard objects whenever possible.
Tip 7. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Seeing your dentist regularly for checkups is always important. But, it’s vital when you have dental devices like implants or bridges because they need special care that only a professional can provide. This means going for regular checkups every six months at the minimum but more often if recommended by your dentist!
Tip 8. Clean Before Going To Bed
Cleaning before going to bed is especially important when you have dental devices because bacteria can accumulate on them overnight if left uncleaned. This leads to bad breath and potential decay and gum disease if left untreated for too long! So make sure you clean before bed each night.
Tip 9. Wear A Nightguard
Wearing a nightguard can help protect the surface of your dental device from grinding while sleeping, which can cause chipping or cracking over time if not protected properly! Plus, it helps reduce snoring too.
Tip 10. Don’t Forget About Other Oral Hygiene Habits
Just because you have implants or bridges doesn’t mean that other oral hygiene habits don’t apply anymore. Brushing twice daily still applies even when you have these devices. So, make sure that you do not go to sleep before brushing or flossing your teeth.
Final Words
Taking good care of our oral health is essential no matter what type of tooth replacement we choose. However, proper care becomes even more critical when dealing with complex dental procedures like bridgework and dental implant treatment. The reason behind it is simple - These treatments require extra attention and due diligence to maintain their longevity & performance levels over a long period. By following these ten simple tips, everyone can easily keep their dental appliances looking great & functioning well no matter how many years pass by. With proper care & good hygiene habits, anyone should be able to enjoy beautiful smiles for many years to come without ever worrying about complications due to improper maintenance routine practices again down the line.
