Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

Caring For Your Implant Dentures

9 December 2016

Herman Kim

Implant dentures are a great alternative to traditional, removable ones; they look just like your natural teeth and are much less hassle to care for.  However, there are a few things that you should know about caring for implant dentures to ensure that they stay in good condition and last you for a lifetime.  Read on for some top tips on caring for your implant dentures.

Toothpaste

When choosing toothpaste, it's important that you use a low-abrasive product that won't scratch the surface of any exposed surfaces of the implant, for example any exposed threads.  For this reason, you should steer clear of products that contain baking soda and micro-granules.

In addition, you should avoid toothpaste that contains stain removers and sodium fluoride, as this can cause damage to the oxide layer on your dental implants, potentially making them prone to corrosion.

Toothbrushes

Your dentist will probably recommend that you brush your implants twice each day to prevent a build-up of bacterial plaque.  You could use a manual toothbrush, a sonic brush or an electric brush; all of these are fine, as long as you choose a soft-bristle.

Floss

Although there are lots of different types of dental floss on the market, the best kind for cleaning implant dentures is an un-waxed one.  This helps to protect the sensitive tissues around the implants.  Alternatively, your dentist will be able to supply you with implant-specific floss that comes with a built-in threader.

When flossing your implant dentures, insert the floss on both sides of the implant.  Wrap it into a circle, criss-crossed in front of the tooth, and then work the floss in a shoe-shine motion.  This helps to clean the crevice between the implant and the gum, which can be susceptible to inflammation if it isn't cleaned properly.  Finish off with an antimicrobial mouth rinse.

Stimulators

Stimulators are used to keep the tissues around the implant dentures healthy.  Your dentist will be able to supply you with soft, rubber-tipped stimulators for use on these areas.  To use the stimulator, simply place the tip flat against the gum and apply pressure so that the stimulator rolls and massages the gum tissue.  The gum tissue should turn white when you're applying the correct amount of pressure.

In conclusion

To keep your implant dentures and your gums in good condition, it's important that you look after them properly.  For more advice on how to care for your implant dentures, have a chat with your dentist.

Share

Search