As a young mother, I was reasonably ignorant when raising my firstborn. My biggest regret is that I didn't help her take better care of her teeth. Like many people, I didn't realise the importance of baby teeth, resulting in long-term dental problems. Recently, my daughter got married and some of my tears were for the beautiful, glistening smile she presented to the cameras. Ever since I realised the dental damage I had caused, I had been saving for my daughter to have cosmetic dentistry. The results are remarkable. During the course of this journey, I have learnt a lot about caring for children's teeth and corrective procedures that can be undertaken when issues arise. I am sure many of you would be interested in the latest knowledge and techniques that are available to prevent and repair dental complications. I'm Margret Devlin - thanks for visiting.
Like regular teeth, dental implants need daily care to keep them in good condition. If you maintain your implants well, they could last a lifetime, giving you a perfect smile and the ability to enjoy all your favourite foods without worrying about dentures slipping out of place. Use these tips to keep your implants healthy.
1. Brush Every Day
Don't assume that you can throw away your toothpaste if you have no natural teeth. Dental implants also need cleaning twice every day to keep them in good condition. Use an electric or manual brush to sweep plaque away from the top, front and back sides of all your dental implants.
2. Don't Forget to Floss
As well as brushing your dental implants, you also need to use dental floss to clean between them. If your implants are too tightly packed for flossing, try using an interdental brush to gently clean out the plaque from the tiny gaps between them. Cleaning between your implants removes plaque and therefore reduces the risk of gum problems.
3. Check Your Cleaning Technique
It can be difficult to tell whether or not you've removed all traces of plaque from your implants. Find out how effectively you are cleaning your implants by chewing a plaque disclosing tablet and swishing it around your mouth for 30 seconds to show up the plaque left on your teeth. This tablet will colour the plaque so you can see which parts of your implants you need to clean more thoroughly.
4. Avoid Whitening Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes don't make dental implants whiter. In fact, the abrasive ingredients in these toothpastes can create tiny scratches on the surfaces of your implants, making your smile appear dull. Use a non-whitening toothpaste to keep your implants clean.
5. See Your Dentist Regularly
A dentist can spot the early signs of oral health problems that could affect your implants, such as infections or gum disease. See your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings to keep your implants healthy.
6. Spot the Signs of a Problem
Although many patients have no problems with their dental implants, it is possible to develop a condition called peri-implantitis, which can ultimately lead to your implants needing to be taken out if it is untreated. Look out for the early signs of this condition - soreness and redness in the gums - so your dentist can give you treatment to keep your implants healthy.
Share26 August 2016