Maintaining Your New Dental Implants – 5 Tips to Keep Your Smile in Shape

They're worth every penny, but let’s face it – the cost of dental implants makes them a big investment. So once you get your new smile from Pristine Dentistry, you’ll want to make sure it lasts.  

The good news is that dental implants can last for decades with proper care. What do you need to do to keep your new smile healthy? Here are 5 tips that you can follow to maximize the lifespan of your implants, keep your smile healthy, and smile proudly for years to come.

1. Follow All of Your Post-Op Recovery Instructions

Until the implant fully heals and properly integrates with the surrounding tissues, your permanent dental implants are vulnerable. Infections, trauma to the implant, and other issues could damage them and require them to be replaced, delaying your recovery.

So after your initial implant placement surgery, you’ll need to follow all of the post-op recovery instructions provided by Dr. Ashley or Dr. Ben, such as:

• Limit physical activity for a few days post-op

• Eat soft foods for a few weeks to avoid damaging your implant

• Do not move, prod, or mess with the implant site

• Brush the implant site very gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush

• Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol for at least two weeks (preferably longer)

After your procedure, you’ll receive a full list of instructions. Following them to the letter will ensure that your implant heals more quickly and that you have a lower risk of complications like infection (peri-implantitis).  

2.  Maintain An Excellent Oral Hygiene Routine

Oral hygiene is your first line of defense against implant failure and against other oral health issues like cavities, infections, and even gum disease. But one of the best things about implants is that you can treat them just like natural teeth!

Even if you already take great care of your teeth, following the steps below can help you step things up further and make sure your smile is as healthy as possible after you get dental implants:

• Brush 2-3 times daily for at least two minutes

• Avoid drinking or rinsing for about 30 minutes after brushing

• Make sure you brush once after your last meal/snack of the day

• Floss once daily to remove debris that brushing alone can’t remove

• Consider using a water flosser once or twice daily for additional cleaning power

• Rinse daily with fluoride mouthwash to kill bacteria and strengthen your teeth

3. Don’t Smoke, Vape, Or Use Smokeless Tobacco/Nicotine Products

Did you know that smoking and tobacco use are a leading cause of premature tooth loss in America? Compared to non-smokers, people who smoke every day have a 2-3x higher risk of tooth loss. So if you want to keep your implants healthy:

• Don’t smoke – Smoking dries out your mouth, weakens your gums, stains your teeth, and raises the risk of premature dental implant failure. If you were a smoker before you got your implants, stopping smoking is the best way to ensure they last for years and decades to come.

• Don’t vape – It’s not just smoking, either. Vaping also has negative effects on your oral health. It’s associated with an elevated risk of gum disease, higher levels of oral bacteria, reduced saliva production, and tons of other negative effects.

• Don’t use smokeless tobacco – Products like snus, chewing tobacco, and ZYN pouches also raise the risk of implant failure. They contain abrasive and irritating particles, cause gum irritation and damage, and raise your risk of oral cancer dramatically.

Long story short, it’s best to avoid any type of smoking, vaping, or use of nicotine-based products if you want to protect your new implants. Trust us, your mouth will thank you for it!  

4. Maintain A “Tooth-Healthy” Diet And Lifestyle

Smoking, vaping, and using smokeless tobacco aren’t the only things that can raise your risk of gum infections, cavities, and dental implant failure. There are plenty of other steps you can take to make your lifestyle and diet more “tooth-healthy,” such as:

• Avoiding sugary soft drinks, coffee, tea, sports drinks, and cocktails

• Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and stimulate saliva production

• Chewing sugar-free gum after meals

• Snacking less, especially on starchy or sugary snacks

• Reducing your sugar intake in general

• Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

• Adding more cheese and healthy dairy to your diet

• Reducing alcohol consumption

• Get treatment for tooth grinding/clenching (bruxism)

5. Don't Forget About Six-Month Checkups & Cleanings

Even though your new teeth can’t become stained or get cavities, dental implant maintenance is still very important! Even after you get implants, you’ll need to visit your dentist in Vista for six-month checkups and teeth cleanings.  

During each visit to Pristine Dentistry, our dental team will make sure your implants are in good shape, check your natural teeth for signs of oral disease, and polish your smile to make sure you look and feel your best. This gives you peace of mind and helps protect your investment in your new smile, too.

Interested In Permanent Smile Restoration? Visit Our Office!

If you’re interested in getting dental implants in Vista, Pristine Dentistry is here to help! Dr. Ben and Dr. Ashley both specialize in implant dentistry. Whether you’re not sure if you’re a candidate, you’re wondering what to expect from the process, or you’re curious about the cost of treatment with one or more implants, we’re here for you.

So don’t wait, and don’t let tooth loss interfere with your life any longer. Give us a call or contact Pristine Dentistry online to take the first steps, find out if you qualify for dental implants, and see how you can change your life with permanent smile restoration.