If you’ve been putting off getting dental implants because of the cost, it’s time to reconsider. The average cost of a dental implant in your mouth is about $4,000. Implants can be a great solution for missing teeth and improve your chewing ability. But there are a few things you should know before going ahead with dental implants. Here are helpful tips on caring for your dental implants when you get them done.
1. Do Not Bite or Chew on Your Dental Implants
Biting and chewing can damage the tissue of your mouth. This can also cause soft tissue inflammation, which could lead to infection. When you bite or chew on your dental implants, you risk damaging the implant site and causing your jawbone to grow around the implant. Many people have had their dental implants removed after a while due to this problem.
2. Wear a Mouthguard When You Sleep
When you have dental implants, you should wear a mouth guard to protect the area around your new teeth. This is especially important when you sleep, as it prevents your jaw from moving and causing damage to the implant site. You can purchase a dental mouth guard at most pharmacies.
3. Take Care of Your Teeth
Most people who get dental implants will need to take care of their old teeth before getting new ones. If you don’t want your old teeth to affect the site where your new implants are going, it’s important to clean them regularly. You can use toothpaste and brush them with a soft-bristled brush designed for this purpose. You can also use floss or a tongue scraper to get between the teeth and the implant site. It would help if you visited your dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth are healthy. This will allow your new implants to fit well and look natural.
4. Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions
You should follow your dentist’s instructions about taking care of your new implants. Your dentist will tell you what to do and when to do it.
5. Use A Mouthwash After Eating
After eating or drinking something sticky or acidic, you must rinse your mouth out with mouthwash. This will help prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar in the area around your implant site, which can cause irritation and infection of the dental implant site. You can find a good mouthwash at most pharmacies or drug stores.
6. Protect the Area Around Your Dental Implants
The most important thing is to protect the area around your dental implants from damage caused by rubbing against other things regularly. You can use band-aids, tape, or anything else that will help you keep the area around your implants clean. You should also wear a mouthguard when you are working out, playing sports, or participating in other activities that involve a lot of vigorous activity. This will protect the area around your implant from damage caused by your teeth grinding against each other or the bone in your face.
7. Check and Adjust the Fit of Your Dental Implants
It is important to check and adjust the fit of your dental implants regularly. This will allow them to stay in their proper position and remain healthy and strong to last for many years. The dentist will tell you how often you should check and adjust your dental implants.
8. Keep Regular Appointments with A Dentist
It is important to keep appointments with a dentist regularly so that they can monitor the health of your dental implant site and make any adjustments as needed. It’s also important to ensure that your crowns and bridges are in good shape and are doing their job.
9. Avoid Smoking
Smoking can cause serious health problems for people who have dental implants and anyone who has a habit of smoking. This is because smoking causes blood vessels in the gum tissue to narrow, making your dental implant site more prone to having an infection develop there. If you smoke, you should try to quit doing so as soon as possible so that you can avoid any complications caused by this habit.
10. Avoid Using Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs can also cause serious health problems for people who have dental implants and anyone who has a habit of drinking or using these substances regularly. This is because they can affect the way that your body functions. If you drink or use drugs, you should quit doing so as soon as possible so that you can avoid any complications caused by this habit.
11. Avoid Biting Your Nails or Picking at Your Skin
This is one of the most common habits people have when having dental implants. This is because there are many things you can do to cause damage to the surgical site, which can lead to an infection development.
12. Avoid Touching Your Teeth with Dirty Hands
If you have any dental implants, you must avoid touching them with dirty hands to avoid getting an infection in the surgical site. This is because bacteria from your hands can cause an infection in the implant site. Instead of touching your teeth with dirty hands, it’s best to use a toothpick first to not spread bacteria from your hands into your mouth and onto the implant.
13. Avoid Using a Mouthwash That Contains Alcohol
Many people use mouthwashes that contain alcohol to kill bacteria in their mouths to keep them free of infections. However, this is not a good idea for dental implants, as it can cause an infection in the surgical site, spreading from there into other parts of your body.
Contact Dental Professionals Today
As you can see, there are many things to avoid regarding dental implants. These include using a mouthwash containing alcohol, touching your teeth with dirty hands, and not wearing your retainer properly. By doing these things, you can greatly reduce the risk of developing an infection in the surgical site, which will then spread into other parts of your body and cause further damage. More ways of caring for your dental implants can be found here.
