Dental implants are a popular option where one or more missing teeth need replacing with a fixed, permanent solution. There are endless benefits to choosing a dental implant over alternative solutions such as dentures, and one of these is their low-maintenance nature. But dental implants are a big investment, so if you’re scheduled to have a dental implant fitted, you want to feel confident that you can make it last for many years.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are fast becoming one of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry, largely because of their variety of benefits and long-lasting nature – but what are they?
Usually made from titanium, a dental implant is a screw that is placed into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. Once it’s placed, the bone will naturally begin to grow around the implant, a process known as osseointegration, and the implant will then be ready for a false tooth to be fitted to the top.
Due to the nature of dental implants, you can replace one singular missing tooth or several, and the end result will always look and feel as natural as your own teeth would.
How to Take Care of Your Dental Implants
Most cosmetic treatments have the potential to last several years if well maintained, and dental implants in London are no different. Typically, the better you take care of your new smile – the longer it will last, with many dental implants lasting well over 20 years. The good news with dental implants is that they’re pretty low-maintenance, but there are certain things you can do to get the most out of them – so let’s dive in!
- Getting the right toothbrush
Not all toothbrushes are created equal, and even the highest quality toothbrush may no longer be suitable if you’ve recently gotten a dental implant fitted. We advise opting for a soft nylon toothbrush, which benefits from soft and pliable bristles, which are much kinder to dental implants.
Hard bristled toothbrushes can damage the surface of the dental implant over time, so if you’re unsure what sort of toothbrush to choose, speak with your dentist.
- Don’t forget to floss
Flossing is a massively underrated part of your dental care routine, but this is even more true when it comes to dental implants. Flossing is crucial to remove hard to reach plaque that collects between teeth, but when you’ve got a dental implant fitted, the plaque has extra places to gather.
The good news is that flossing daily is super easy and effective, and you can even get hold of specialist flossing equipment for use on implants.
- Avoid particularly hard or sticky foods
Your dental implant should give you the confidence to live life to the full again, but there are some foods that can damage your implants if you aren’t careful. To make your implants last as long as possible, try to avoid foods such as:
- Steak
- Crusty bread
- Hard caramel
- Apples
Of course, we’re not suggesting that you never enjoy these types of food, but merely to reduce them, taking extra care when you do consume them to avoid damage.
- Kick some habits
In the same way that nicotine and alcohol can stain and damage natural teeth overtime, they can also cause damage to dental implants. If you’ve been looking for that extra push to kick your bad habits, having dental implants fitted is a great motivation, as avoiding these types of substances can ensure your implants last much longer.
It’s worth noting that smoking and drinking should be avoided particularly during the initial 6 weeks after your implants have been placed as the area is still healing.
- Keep up with your appointments
Routine check-ups are so important, but they’re also so often overlooked, with many patients avoiding the dentist until they need to be seen. Once you’ve got your dental implants fitted, keeping up with routine appointments is so important, as it means we can spot any issues quickly, and before they have a chance to cause real damage.
Simply visiting us twice a year should be enough to keep on top of the health of your implants.
Are you looking for dental implants in London?
If so, then why not get in touch with our team? With over 40 years of experience, you can rest assured you’re in great hands with us. Find out more about our dental implant treatment by calling us on 020 7486 4442 or send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll get back in touch as soon as we can.
