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Dental Implants: Long-Term Care And Health

3 February 2015 by Ross Martin

If you've gone through the process of dental implant surgery at a clinic like Oral Surgery Center, you have put time and money into your dental care and understand the risks of neglecting your teeth. In order for your gums and teeth surrounding implants to stay healthy, oral care should be a priority. Here are four tips to keep your dental implant healthy, and ultimately last longer.

1. Routine Check-ups

Be sure to visit your dentist regularly to check on your implant and any other recent major oral surgery. If there are problems such as shifting, cracks or gum recession, this needs to be caught as soon as possible. Your dentist will work with you for early identifications of problems and make recommendations if follow up care is needed.

2. Stay Healthy and be Careful

Diet can directly affect your dental health and keeping your teeth and gums happy is even more important with implants. Try your best to eat healthy and avoid sugar, acidic foods, and wine. If you are into extreme sports such as mountain biking or skiing, take extra care. Any injuries to your mouth can throw off any dental work and dislodge implants. Mouth guards can be worn, or it may be time to think about putting away extreme hobbies that can put your oral health at risk.

3. No Lip or Tongue Piercings

Equipped with a new implant, you might be ready to show off your great smile. It can be tempting to add some extra sparkle and get a lip or tongue piercing. This is bad for teeth in general, and even worse for crowns. Crowns are expected to last for 10 to 15 years, but a foreign metal object can chip or dislodge a crown much sooner. It is best to stay away from piercings that can derail the effort you have gone through for your perfect smile.

4. Extra Care for Implants

Ask your dentist if there is a specific type of toothbrush and floss they would recommend for your oral care and implant. This can vary depending on your gum health, age, and other factors with your dental history. Don't rely on a product being popular, make sure that the merits of any specific oral care product is actually right for you first.

Long-term overall oral care is a necessity for the longevity and health of your dental implants. Taking every day precautions, maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping up with continual visits to your dentist are the best way to make sure that your implants are successful. The time and money that you have invested in implants should be a reminder as to why you should keep good habits down the line.

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