If you’re seeking a reliable, long-lasting way to rebuild your smile after tooth loss, you might be a good candidate for dental implants. These lifelike restorations are the only ones that are embedded in your jaw, which usually makes them stronger and more resilient than traditional dentures or bridges.
But you must care for them correctly to prevent potential problems, like gum disease or tooth decay, which can contribute to their failure. With that in mind, continue reading to learn more about the best way to floss your new teeth without harming them!
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants involve surgically placing a biocompatible post, usually made from titanium or zirconia, directly into your jaw. Then, it can take anywhere between 3 and 6+ months to recover, because that’s often how long it takes for your mouth to produce enough new bone to fully envelop the support pole to keep it firmly rooted in place.
During this time, your mouth also forms a blood clot at the surgical site to protect the exposed bone, nerves, and other tissues. As your gum tissues heal, they attach to your implant, forming a seal that prevents bacteria, germs, or residue from entering the area and triggering an infection.
Why is Flossing Dental Implants Important?
Your restoration isn’t made from the same organic components as your natural teeth, so they can’t get cavities. However, the surrounding connective tissues and remaining teeth are still vulnerable to common concerns, such as tooth decay or periodontal disease. For example, an advanced stage of gum disease known as peri-implantitis is the leading cause of implant failure.
Thankfully, you can brush and floss these prosthetics like your natural teeth, so they’re easy to maintain, but you must take care not to damage the protective seal that has formed.
How Can I Floss My Dental Implants Correctly?
It’s important to be gentle when cleaning your mouth with dental implants to avoid harming them. For example, if you press string floss too deeply into the pocket of your restoration, you could break the seal that helps keep germs out, increasing the risk of gum disease and other issues.
To floss properly, you can take an 18cm section of the string product and wrap the ends around your fingers. Press it carefully into the gums around your dental implant to form a c-shape, then glide it gently up and down. Be sure to rub along the side of the crown (or other replacement teeth) to remove any plaque buildup hidden there. If you struggle with string floss, you might do better with an oral irrigator, which relies on a pressurized stream of water to remove bacteria, instead.
If you have questions about proper techniques or how to best maintain your dental implants, you can learn more by contacting your dentist directly!
Meet the Author
Dr. Nicholas Rowley takes pride in helping people of all ages build and maintain the healthiest, most beautiful versions of their smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University, and today, he has more than a decade of experience offering a full menu of services, including start-to-finish implant treatment, to meet your unique needs under one roof. His compassionate nature is combined with advanced technology to deliver lifelike, accurate results meant to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (321) 723-1772.