How To Clean Single Dental Implants

Keeping dental implants clean extends their life and keeps them looking great. It also keeps the gum tissue healthy and problem-free, preventing diseases such as peri-implantitis. Your entire mouth will feel clean, look great, and be healthy with the proper oral care.

Step 1: Brush with a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

Single dental implants are best cleaned using a soft-bristled toothbrush. An electric toothbrush is also a good choice. A soft-bristled brush will remove bacteria and plaque from the teeth and implants just as well as medium- or hard-bristle brushes, and an electric toothbrush provides a stronger and higher count of brush strokes which is effective at breaking apart and removing plaque and bacteria more thoroughly than manually brushing.

Step 2: Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day

It is most common for people to brush their teeth the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, but when you have dental implants it is a good idea to brush at least twice a day and even more, such as after eating. This prevents the buildup of food particles and plaque which can result in peri-implantitis.

Step 3: Use the Proper Dental Floss

Choose a dental floss that is specially formulated for use with dental implants. Bridge/crown floss is designed to thoroughly clean beneath and all around implants safely. The ends are made of firm nylon. The midsection is textured to clean the surface of the teeth as well as the porcelain all the way to the gum line. The firm ends can be inserted between the teeth and below the gum line to clean all around the implant. This type of floss is used after brushing and before rinsing the toothpaste from the mouth so that the floss distributes fluoride all around the implant.

Step 4: Use A Gentle Toothpaste

Choose a non-abrasive toothpaste to use if you have dental implants. Many brands of toothpaste contain stain-removing ingredients or baking soda. These can wear down the glaze and the acrylic on porcelain implants. Use a toothpaste that is specially formulated for use with dental implants. Your dentist can recommend the best one for your type of implants.

Step 5: Clean Your Teeth with an Oral Irrigator

These oral care systems are also called water jets or water flossers. They are very effective at loosening and washing away food particles, plaque, and bacteria and the pockets around the teeth to a depth of 6 millimeters. Most models feature a rubber tip stimulator as well as other types of attachments that work to thoroughly clean teeth and gums. The majority of dentists recommend using oral irrigators in place of more traditional dental floss. This is because the water flossing systems are more effective and often easier to use. There is also the concern that some regular flosses can actually leave behind small fibers and particles that can cause peri-implantitis. Another point to remember is that you should use the oral irrigation system prior to brushing so as not to wash away the fluoride and its beneficial effects.

Step 6: Brush and Floss All Around and Underneath Implants

Use a slim-headed soft-bristled interdental toothbrush or one with an angled neck in order to reach implants in the back of your mouth and other areas in order to thoroughly and safely remove food particles and bacteria from all areas of the implant crown, under, around, and on top.