3 Important Care Steps For Dental Implants
One of the worst dental emergencies to experience is a tooth falling out. When this happens, you'll need to find a suitable replacement in the form of a dental implant. It's designed to give you a complete smile again. In order for it to last, though, you need to complete these care steps on a regular basis.
1. Don't Irritate the Implant
Once the implant is secured into your gums, it will need some time to heal properly. As such, you need to avoid irritating it at all costs, no matter how sensitive your gums or surrounding teeth are each day.
Under no circumstances should you touch your implant or move it around with your tongue. You also should avoid using a toothbrush on the implant, at least for the first couple of weeks. If you do, you could move the implant out of position. Then, you'd have to pay for an adjustment.
2. Keep Your Mouth Clean
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do after getting a dental implant is keeping your mouth clean. This is because poor oral hygiene could lead to the dental implant not taking, thereby costing you more money and time.
To prevent infections from attacking your jaw and gum tissue surrounding the implant, you need to floss on a regular basis. This way, food particles can't get stuck and cause bacteria to spread throughout your mouth. Using special fluoride toothpaste can also help keep your mouth clean to combat the occurrence of an infection.
3. Consult with Your Dentist
No matter how smooth you think your dental implant procedure was, it's still a good idea to follow up with your dentist. They know exactly what red flags to look for if your implants aren't healing the way they should.
For example, your dentist can check for signs of infection and inflammation. If they are detected, your dentist can come up with a viable treatment plan so that your implant isn't affected negatively in any way. This might involve taking anti-inflammatory medication or getting shots directly into the gums.
Your dentist can also provide some tips for taking care of your implants so that they last much longer.
Dental implants are incredible surgical components that you can use when faced with missing teeth. As long as you stay proactive when maintaining them each year, they can vastly improve your smile and look great for a long time.
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