How Should I Maintain My Dental Implants?

If you’re missing a tooth, the most natural type of prosthetic tooth that you can get is a dental implant. Dental implants work very much like natural teeth, in that each implant is fused with the jaw bone to create a permanent tooth replacement.

Once your implant (or implants) are installed, your dentist in Katy and Houston, TX can help you determine how to keep your implant clean and in good condition. Here’s what to know about maintaining dental implants.

Cleaning Dental Implants

Cleaning dental implants is a lot like cleaning natural teeth. Brush your implant with regular, non-abrasive toothpaste to keep the implant free from plaque and tartar. Brush your implant twice per day at the same time that you brush the rest of your teeth.

Floss your dental implant once daily. When flossing, push the floss down straight down along the tooth, then pull the floss straight up. Avoid wrapping the floss around the crown of the implant, or this could break the seal that attaches the crown to the implant.

Can Dental Implants Be Whitened?

Dental implants cannot be whitened. Many implants are made from tooth-colored material that has been color matched to the other teeth in the mouth. Some implants are made of metal and are not tooth colored at all. Either way, neither of these types of implants responds to tooth-whitening agents.

This means that if you have a dental implant, the whitening process could cause your natural teeth to change their color, while your dental implant remains the color that it is. When the whitening is finished, your teeth and implant won’t match.

See your Dentist Every Six Months

If you have dental implants in Katy and Houston, TX, see the dentist every six months for a dental examination. During the routine dental examination and cleaning, your dentist will check your implant to ensure that it is still in good condition. Call Chloe Dental today to make an appointment.