"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Many people believe that once they have a dental implant they do not have to worry as much about their oral health. Dental implants are, however, susceptible to bone loss if they are not maintained properly. This can lead to infections of the area around the dental implant and potentially even dental implant loss.

So what exactly is the proper way to clean them?

The importance of cleaning properly is often overlooked, but it is an important part of keeping your dental implants, teeth and gums healthy.

Using the right method to brush your teeth and dental implants will prevent harmful plaque build-up which can lead to many oral health problems. Brushing properly will prevent:

• Gingivitis: a gum disease that develops when there is plaque beneath the gum line and separated the teeth from gums
• Peri-implantitis: a destructive process that leads to dental implant loss where the soft tissue surrounding the dental implant becomes inflamed and the hard tissue (alveolar bone), which surrounds the dental implant for retention purposes, is lost over time
  
• Cavities: permanent damages in the form of tiny hold on the hard surface of the teeth
  
• Tooth Decay: damage that occurs when bacteria in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth

​Thomas E. Bramanti, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Board-Certified Diplomate American Board of Periodontology/Implant Dentistry

Board-Certified Diplomate American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry

​​Certified TMJ Expert, The Pankey Institute

Fellow American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Clinical Assistant Professor at UCSF in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Clinical Assistant Professor UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program, School of Medicine 

"We invite you to make an appointment today.

We are looking forward to serving you!"

How to Find a Dental Implant Expert 

It’s not easy to relearn brushing after you’ve been using one method. Switching over to a new method will take some getting used to, but the results will speak for themselves.

It's common to brush your teeth in a back and forth motion, similar to sawing back and forth, until you feel like your teeth are clean and slippery. This is the wrong way to brush your teeth.

This motion causes several issues:

It scrubs away tooth enamel. This makes teeth sensitive to hot and cold liquids and food much sooner than they normally would be.
It's very abrasive to your teeth and gums. Over brushing can increase your chances of developing cavities and receding gums. 
It does not clean effectively. Since the bristles are moving back and forth, they are essentially bouncing from one tooth to the next, which causes you to miss the spaces in between the teeth to remove plaque and other tiny particles of food.

The right way is to start by placing your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to where the teeth meet the gums. Then gently move your toothbrush back and forth making sure the bristles cover each tooth and work their way around the sides of the tooth. This method allows you to find all of the food particles and plaque in the spaces between your teeth and your dental implants. 

Are you wondering how to clean your dental implants?

If you currently have dental implants or are contemplating scheduling an initial consultation with a dental implant expert, consider this: when it comes to your oral health, cleaning your dental implants is just as important as brushing and flossing your natural teeth.

Many people are surprised to learn that they actually have been cleaning their teeth the wrong way for years, let alone their dental implants. I often hear, ”I have always done it this way.”

Cleaning teeth and dental implants the wrong way may lead to additional oral health problems.

In this blog post, I will teach you how to clean your dental implants the right way so you will protect both your teeth and your dental implants and reap the benefits for many years to come.

The Importance of Effective Daily Care

Master the right brushing method 

Don't forget to floss

THOMAS E. BRAMANTI, DDS, PHD, INC 

5660 N. Fresno Suite 110

Fresno, CA 93710

559-438-7800

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved.

​How to Clean Dental Implants Properly

Since it can be more difficult to floss dental implants, I personally prescribe patients a water flosser, such as a Waterpik. The use of a water flosser is essential for maintaining gum health and proactively protecting the soft tissue surrounding the dental implant. There are also various types of products you may use, depending on the specific clinical situation. You don't want to miss this step so ask your doctor about the best way to floss and let him or her know of any challenges you are facing.

It is critical to first ask your dentist or dental hygienist the step-by-step process to floss around your dental implant.

Learning the proper care for your dental implants and remaining natural teeth will help you maintain your teeth for years to come and restore your confidence and beautiful smile. 

This needs to be done in combination with seeing a highly qualified and experienced dental implant dentist twice a year and sometimes more depending on your specific dental implant needs. Choose a Board-Certified Dental Implant Expert to guide through this process so you may enjoy your dental implants for a lifetime.

 

About The Author:
Thomas E. Bramanti, D.D.S., Ph.D., DABP, DABOI, FAAID is a Board-Certified Specialist in Periodontics, a Board-Certified Specialist in Oral Implantology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and a leading authority in implant dentistry. He is a private practitioner of Periodontics, Advanced Dental Implant Dentistry, and TMJ Expert serving patients in Fresno for over 30 years, a Clinical Assistant Professor at UCSF in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a Clinical Assistant Professor UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program in the School of Medicine, and an Attending Surgeon at Community Regional Medical Center Hospital.

With a passion for lifelong results, Dr. Bramanti has pioneered new standards of care for dental implant success. He has contributed research journals and medical articles in local periodicals to raise awareness of health issues impacting the Central Valley.

How to Clean Your Dental Implants