After your all-on-4 treatment is completed, the key to lasting results and overall satisfaction with the implants is good oral hygiene. Maintaining good oral hygiene and knowing how to clean your implants after your all-on-4 implant procedure will make all the difference in the longevity of your implants. The following is our expert guide to cleaning your all-on-4 implants.
Goals for Cleaning All-on-four Implants
There are three main goals you should focus on when caring for your implants at home:
Remove any food that remains.
Remove bacteria that tend to cling to surfaces in the mouth.
Prevent the bacteria from hardening onto the implants, an issue that will eventually cause mouth odors and implant-related gum disease.
Methods for All-on-4 Implants Cleaning
Floss around your implants after every meal.
Use a waterpik for more effective cleaning.
Brush your tongue and cheeks to remove oral bacteria and odors.
Attend professional cleaning appointments every 3-6 months.
How to Clean All-on-4 Dental Implants
1. Brush your teeth
As with your natural teeth, you should be brushing twice daily in order to maintain optimal oral hygiene. Use a good quality, soft bristled toothbrush, and brush all teeth, gums, tongue and implants for two to three minutes. Be sure to brush in circular motions all the way up to the gum line. Brush along your tongue to remove bacteria that can be spread throughout your mouth.
2. Floss or use a water flossing device, such as a Waterpik®
Flossing is great at removing hard-to-reach food particles, which can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. There are also oral irrigation devices, such as the Waterpik® water flossers. Using this tool at least once a day can remove stubborn, hidden food particles and helps to keep the mouth and dental implants clean.
3. Use a rubber tip gum stimulator
Rubber tip gum stimulators are helpful tools that can be used to trace gently along the gumline. With implants, the tooth is not as closely bonded to the gums like natural teeth, allowing food particles and debris to become lodged or stuck at the base of the gums. This can cause inflammation and in extreme cases, infection. By using a rubber tip gum stimulator, you can remove food particles before they cause any unwanted problems.
4. Finish with a non-alcohol oral rinse
By rinsing your mouth after cleaning with an alcohol-free oral rinse, you will decrease your risk of infection and help to clear existing plaque buildup. However, be careful to avoid any whitening oral rinses after getting dental implants.
Learn More about Proper Care for Your All-on-4 Implants
If you’re in the Scottsdale-Phoenix area, contact Dr. Nicolas Bebeau at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Phoenix to get more information on how to clean All-on-4 implants. And remember to regularly attend your dental appointments and check-ups every three to six months following the placement of your dental implants to get a thorough, professional cleaning. This will keep your smile as bright as the day you got it!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/09/2020) Pexels
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