When you had all your natural teeth, your dentist may have repeatedly emphasized the importance of daily flossing? Yes, flossing is of critical importance for reducing plaque buildup and preventing oral health issues. But what about now that you have dental implants? Do you still need to floss? If so, do you need to change your flossing technique? This blog post provides helpful information.
Do You Still Need to Floss?
Even though dental implants cannot get cavities, oral hygiene remains extremely important! Maintaining a clean mouth can reduce the risk of dental implant failure and help your replacement teeth last for decades.
When it comes to flossing, though, experts advise caution. Even though you need to clean around your dental implants, traditional string floss poses some risks. For example, floss can shred, and tiny particles might get stuck around the implant. Another risk is that, if you apply too much force with the floss, you could accidentally break the peri-implant seal (the attachment between your gums and the implant), which in turn could increase your risk of infection. With normal teeth, such issues are not major concerns, but for implants, they could increase the risk of failure.
So, then, what should you do? The best course of action is to comply with your dentist’s oral hygiene instructions. They may advise you on what type of floss to use and the proper technique so you can maintain a clean mouth without endangering your implants.
Keeping a Clean Mouth with Dental Implants
Here are some tips to help you floss safely around your dental implants:
- Choose the right product. Some types of floss are designed to resist shedding, making them safer for implant patients.
- Be very gentle. Your peri-implant seal does not have nerve endings like the ligaments that hold natural teeth in place, so you will not feel pain if you accidentally break it. Therefore, you should guide the floss very gently around your prosthetic teeth.
- Use a floss threader. This tool can be essential for guiding floss underneath implant-supported bridges and into other tight spaces.
- Consider a floss alternative. Your dentist may advise you to use a water flosser or small interdental brushes to clean around your prosthetic teeth instead of flossing. These options pose fewer risks and can still remove plaque very efficiently.
Dental implants require some adjustments to your flossing routine! Be cautious so you can keep your mouth clean without accidentally causing complications for yourself.
Meet the Practice
At Blue Coast Dental Group, our team features both general dentists and specialists, including a periodontist (gum health expert) and prosthodontist (expert in dental restorations). We all work together to provide top-quality care for the Torrance community. If you have questions about how to care for your dental implants so they stand the test of time, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact our office at 310-424-3100.