Looking after implants at home

Dental Excellence have created some useful tips to help you look after your dental implants, dentures and bridges at home, with advice on what to do if something goes wrong.

Taking care of dental implants

If you have a dental implant, you’ll understand the importance of keeping it clean and healthy to maintain its lifespan. Peri-implant disease is the most common form of infection that can develop around implants. It’s similar to gum disease around a tooth and is caused by a build-up of plaque. This causes bone loss around your implants and surrounding teeth.

The only way to prevent peri-implant disease is with regular cleaning and maintenance of your implant. If for some reason you are unable to visit your Dentist or hygienist, it’s still vital you look after your implants meticulously at home.

We recommend you:
• Brush your implants at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush, including under and around the crown of the implant
• Use an interdental brush coated with nylon every day to clean around the implant, or by using unwaxed floss tape or ‘super floss’
• If you have multiple dental implants or have had a full-arch restoration such as smile in a day treatment, your implant dentis-6t will have provided you with further guidance on looking after your implants. If you need additional advice on this, you should contact your local practice.

Problems or pain with your implant
Problems with dental implants can vary from a short-term infection to a chronic infection such as peri-implant disease. Symptoms to look out for include:

• Redness or soreness of the gum around your implant. This could simply be due to a plaque build-up and although the gums may be sore, cleaning properly may settle this down. Use a softer brush or soak your normal brush in hot water before using it as this may soften the nylon bristles. You could also use an antiseptic mouthwash for five to seven days, but don’t forget to clean between the teeth and implants with interdental brushes or dental tape
  • Difficulty chewing with your implant. This could be due to gum inflammation because a crown or bridge is slightly loose, or due to an infection
  • Noticeable swelling around the implant or gum. If it’s spreading up to your eye, down your neck or across your mouth, you must mention this when you contact your dental practice
  • The crown or bridge around the implant loosening, which could be due to cement failure (if the crown or bridge is stuck on), or the fixed crown or bridge around the implant screw becoming loose
  • The implant itself (the screw fixed into the jaw) loosening.

If you have a problem with a dental implant, you shouldn’t try to treat it yourself at home without speaking to a dentist first. Get in touch with us on 0906475387.