Caring for Your Dental Implants: Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Losing a tooth can feel devastating, and it can impact more than your smile. It can leave you feeling self-conscious, making everyday activities like chewing food and talking more difficult.¹ But thanks to modern dentistry, dental implants can replace those missing teeth and help restore both your confidence and your quality of life.²

Of course, if you're investing time and money into dental implants, you'll want them to last. Without proper care, implants are vulnerable to infections, painful inflammation and complications that can lead to implant failure. A consistent care routine that keeps your implants healthy can be simple.³

This guide will help you understand exactly what steps you can take to keep your implants healthy.

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth surgically implanted into your jaw.² Each implant consists of three parts:⁴

• Implant post. A small titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone that functions like an artificial tooth root
• Abutment. A connector between your crown and your post
• Crown. The visible, natural-looking replacement tooth that attaches to the abutment

Implants fall into three main categories:²

• Single tooth implant. Replaces one missing tooth
• Multi-tooth implant. A bridge supported by implants that replaces several missing teeth at once
• All-teeth implant. Replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower arch

Your dentist will recommend the type of implant that's best for your unique situation.

Benefits of dental implants vs. alternative options

Your dentist may also tell you about two alternatives to implants: dentures and traditional bridges. However, implants may have benefits over these options:

• Less maintenance. Removable dentures require special daily cleaning solutions and fixatives. Implants need much less maintenance.²
• Long-lasting. Implants can last a lifetime.² Bridges may fail in five to 10 years, and dentures typically last seven to 15 years.⁵
• More natural feeling. Implants feel and function like natural teeth. Dentures, however, can slip when you talk or chew, which may cause discomfort.²
• Preserving natural teeth. A bridge requires grinding down healthy adjacent teeth to anchor it.⁵ Implants, in contrast, are supported by posts in your jawbone, so nearby teeth remain untouched.³
• Protects against jawbone deterioration. Because the implant post acts like a tooth root, it helps maintain your jawbone and may even stimulate growth.² Dentures and bridges don't replace the root, so the bone may deteriorate over time.⁵

Dental Implant Cleaning and Care

Taking proper care of your dental implant is vital to ensure its longevity and prevent complications like infections. Good daily oral hygiene can help prevent plaque buildup around your implant and reduce your risk of inflammation.³

Without consistent care, you can develop a serious and painful condition called peri-implantitis. This inflammatory disease affects the gums and bone surrounding the implant, and it can progress to the point that the implant loses stability and fails completely.³

Protecting your implants with a solid daily routine (while avoiding harmful habits) can be an effective way to keep them functioning well for years to come.

Cleaning Dental Implants: Daily Care

Caring for dental implants doesn't have to be complicated, but consistency matters. A simple daily routine involving regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash can keep your gums and teeth healthy.³ Here's what a healthy implant-care routine might include.

Brushing techniques

Brushing your implants twice a day using an electric toothbrush with a soft-bristle head can help keep your implants healthy.³ Electric toothbrushes can be especially helpful in avoiding gum irritation and removing plaque because they apply consistent, gentle pressure— but whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush, make sure your toothbrush has soft bristles. Abrasive toothpaste and stiff-bristled toothbrushes can scratch or damage your implant's surface.³

When brushing, use a gentle circular motion around the gum line. This helps remove food particles and plaque without irritating the gums or harming the implant.⁶ Clean along the area where the implant meets your gums, since this is where plaque can often collect.³

Flossing and interdental cleaning

Interdental cleaning is important because toothbrushes can't reach all the spaces between your teeth and around your implants.³

Just keep these tips in mind:

• Floss with implant-safe floss. Floss designed especially for implants is easy and gentle to use. Aim to floss at least once daily to prevent inflammation and infection.⁶
• Try a water flosser. This is effective at removing food debris and plaque that regular floss can't reach. For All-on-4® or All-on-6 implants, it can also dislodge food particles trapped under the bridge.³
• Use interdental brushes carefully. It’s recommended to use interdental brushes designed especially for implants. The regular kind might be too abrasive and may scratch your crown.³

Antibacterial mouthwash

Using an antibacterial mouthwash after you brush and floss can help reduce the bacteria in your mouth and keep it from collecting around your implants.⁶ This helps lower your chance of gum disease and peri-implantitis.³

Professional Dental Care of Implants

Even with excellent brushing and flossing at home, you'll still need professional dental care to keep your implants healthy and long-lasting.³ Regular checkups allow your dentist to clean areas you might miss and spot early signs of problems before they become serious. With implants, it's recommended to schedule routine checkups every three to six months.⁷

During your appointment, your dental team may:³

• Check the implants' stability and surrounding structures
• Examine surrounding tissue for infection, inflammation or other complications⁶
• Polish your crowns if needed
• Take X-rays to monitor for bone loss
• Use specialized tools to clean areas around your implant and prosthetic

These appointments are an important part of preventing peri-implantitis and ensuring your implants stay healthy as long as possible.³

Maintenance of Dental Implants: Lifestyle Tips

Your lifestyle habits also play a major role in how well your implants hold up over time. To keep them strong and functioning properly, try to avoid habits that place extra stress on them and adopt routines that support good oral health.³

Here are some practical things to consider:³

• Avoid sticky or overly chewy foods. These can place excessive pressure on your implants, causing damage.
• Break object-chewing habits. If you tend to chew on pens, pencils or other hard objects, work on stopping this habit.
• Don't chew on hard food. Avoid hard candies, ice or other foods that can crack or chip the implant's crown.
• Don't smoke or use tobacco. Smoking slows healing after implant surgery and increases the chances of gum disease.³
• Maintain a healthy diet. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports your overall oral health, which is essential for keeping implants healthy.
• Wear a night guard. If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about a custom night guard to protect your implants.

Signs of Dental Implant Problems

Even though dental implants have a high success rate, issues can occasionally develop.⁷ Knowing the warning signs can help you get prompt care and prevent further complications.³

Symptoms of peri-implantitis

If peri-implantitis develops, your dentist may need to perform a deep cleaning or, in advanced cases, surgery to restore tissue. Symptoms of peri-implantitis can include:³

• Bleeding gums
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Pus along the gum line
• Red, swollen or tender gums around the implant
• Visible bone loss on X-rays

Symptoms of possible implant failure

Implant failure is uncommon, but can happen from poor dental habits, chronic inflammation or excessive grinding. Warning signs that your implant may be failing can include:³

• A crown or implant that feels looser or unstable
• Gum recession near the implant
• Implant pain that doesn't improve
• Persistent discomfort when chewing

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your dentist right away.

Myths About Dental Implant Care

Misconceptions about dental implant care can lead to unnecessary worry or, worse, habits that may harm your implants. Here are some common myths and the facts that debunk them.

Myth. You'll need an extensive or complicated cleaning routine to prevent complications.

Caring for dental implants is very similar to caring for your natural teeth. Daily brushing and flossing — not an elaborate specialty routine — are the most important steps to preventing plaque, infections and peri-implantitis.⁷

Myth. Daily implant maintenance is difficult to adjust to.

Most patients take very little time to adapt to the small care changes that dental implants need. Often, the only changes needed involve switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush or adding a water flosser for hard-to-reach spots.⁷

Myth. Implants are likely to fail.

Dental implants are highly reliable, with a success rate of about 95% after five to 10 years. In comparison, traditional bridges and dentures tend to have much shorter lifespans.⁷

Myth. Implants require more care than dentures.

Implants are actually easier to care for than dentures because you simply brush and floss them like natural teeth. Dentures need to be removed and cleaned daily.⁸ They also need special fixatives and cleaning solutions.²

Restore Your Smile With Dental Implants

If you're missing any teeth, dental implants can be a long-lasting, natural-feeling solution that restores your smile and your confidence. To keep them lasting as long as possible, continue healthy oral hygiene habits, visit your dentist regularly and avoid habits that may put excess pressure on your crowns. If you have any additional questions about implants, don't hesitate to talk to your dentist.

Financing Dental Implants With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you're getting dental implants or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.^* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.