Dental implants aren’t “real” natural teeth, so you may think they need little (if any) care. Wouldn’t some simple brushing be enough to keep them clean and functional? That said, these metal posts require more than just a toothbrush to work well; flossing is also crucial. The good news is that your Springfield dentist can explain how to floss around your new teeth. So, read on to learn why flossing with dental implants is crucial and how to go about it.
Why Floss Around Dental Implants?
Dental implants may not decay or get infected like “real” teeth, but they still need flossing. They depend on good oral health to work as they should.
The issue is that dental implants only thrive in healthy mouths. When a patient’s surrounding teeth, gums, and jaw are strong, implant posts should remain stable. However, cavities or gum disease would destroy the tissues supporting them; that destruction would cause implant failure.
Thankfully, daily flossing (along with brushing) reduces the risk to dental implants. The habit removes excess plaque and harmful bacteria from your mouth, making oral issues less likely. The overall effect is to give your new teeth a better chance of lasting.
How to Floss Around Dental Implants
As lifelike as they look, dental implant shouldn’t be flossed like natural teeth. They require a special method, so make sure to follow these four steps:
- Thread the Floss: When flossing between dental implants, thread the floss between the posts and your gums. A good way to do so is using a floss threader or similar tools.
- Hold & Slide Properly: As you floss, remember to hold the string between your fingers in each hand and slide it up and down.
- Try an Oral Irrigator: If normal floss is tricky to use, consider using an oral irrigator instead. This device uses pressured water to loosen food and plaque around your implants.
- Don’t Be Forceful: You mustn’t push your floss into the gum pocket when flossing near a dental implant. At most, just leave the string above that area.
Be Careful When Flossing
While flossing with dental implants is a good habit, it requires caution. Exercise care with this habit to avoid damaging your new teeth.
In particular, don’t be aggressive when you floss between dental implants. Overly intense flossing could break the barrier between your implant posts and the underlying bone. If that happens, bacteria could reach into your jaw and cause an infection of its bone tissue. You’d then suffer from bone loss, implant failure, and other harsh side effects.
As you adjust to your replacement teeth, don’t forget about flossing with dental implants. This practice – along with other good oral habits – will keep your smile full for years to come!
About the Author
Dr. Laura Gramse is an expert dentist based in southern Massachusetts, having earned her dental doctorate from Tufts University. Her education (both in and out of school) has made her highly skilled in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative oral treatments. As such, she and her team are always ready to help patients achieve their dream smiles! Today, Dr. Gramse practices at her clinics in Springfield and Palmer; she’s also reachable on her website and by phone at (413)-783-6907 and (413)-283-6521.