Dental implants are designed to last longer, but they need the same amount of care as your natural teeth, sometimes even more than that.
If you have received dental implants in SW Calgary, knowing the right habits can help you protect your investment and keep your smile stronger for years to come.
This guide walks you through strategies to maintain your implants with confidence.
Why You Should Maintain Dental Implants
Caring for your implants is more than just protecting your teeth – it is also about your gums and bone which supports it.
A healthy tissue will keep your implants anchored, prevent it from infections and help your smile look natural.
Tips to Maintain Your Dental Implants
Follow a Proper Oral Hygiene Routine
You should plan a proper oral hygiene routine for dental implants to protect your gums from any kind of inflammation.
Below are some oral hygiene tips to maintain your dental implants:
- Brush twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush
- Use low-abrasive toothpaste
- Clean gently around the gumline
- Floss daily with implant-safe floss or a water flosser
These small daily habits help preserve the bone and gum tissue around the implant.
Brush and Floss Around Dental Implants
Cleaning around implants is important because the gum tissue is more sensitive than around natural teeth.
Brushing:
- Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle
- Clean the crown thoroughly
- Brush under and around the gumline
Flossing:
- Slide the floss under the implant crown
- Clean around the post gently
- Consider using a water flosser for deeper cleansing
If you’re not confident about your technique, a dentist in SW Calgary can show you the best approach during your visits.
Tips for Maintaining Dental Implants Long-Term
Long-term success comes down to protecting the tissues that support your implant. Follow the below mentioned tips to maintain your dental implants for the long run:
- Visit a dentist for professional cleanings two times a year
- Avoid smoking, as it will slow down your healing and increase the infection risk
- Wear a nightguard if you are grinding your teeth
- Replace worn toothbrushes regularly
- Maintain a balanced diet to support gum health
Watch for Warning Signs
Contact a dentist near you when you notice:
- Any bleeding around the implants
- A receding gum
- Bad breath that does not go away
- Any discomfort when you chew
- Redness or any kind of swelling
Catching issues early keeps your implant stable and prevents further problems.
How Oral Hygiene Affects Implant Success
Good hygiene directly influences the lifespan of your implant.
Poor oral care will allow pernicious bacteria to build up around the implant, leading to peri-implantitis, an infection that leads to damage in the surrounding bone.
Knowing how oral hygiene impacts implant success helps you be more proactive:
- Clean gums = strong support for the implant
- Less plaque = lower risk of infection
- Healthy bone = long-term stability
Healthy surrounding tissue means that your implant will stay secure for decades to come.
How to Keep Healthy Gums with Implants
Your gums are the foundation of your implant, so keeping them healthy is important.
A few ways to maintain healthy gums with implants include:
- Regular dental cleanings
- Antibacterial mouth rinses (alcohol-free)
- Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and D
- Avoiding aggressive brushing
- Staying hydrated
These habits help reduce inflammation and support strong gum tissue.
What NOT to Do With Dental Implants: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Keeping your implants healthy isn’t just about what you should do, it’s also about avoiding the habits that can slowly damage them. Here are the most common mistakes people don’t realize they’re making:
- Failing to floss may result in gum infections.
- Whitening toothpaste is too abrasive for implant crowns.
- Chewing ice or hard candy can crack the crown or loosen the screw.
- Ignoring redness of the gums becomes a serious gum disease.
- Using alcohol-based mouthwash dries the gums, slowing healing.
By avoiding such mistakes, implants can remain strong, stable, and free from trouble.
Ready to Keep Your Implants Strong for Life?
Whenever you feel insecure about your cleaning routine or you notice some changes around the implant, please do not hesitate to contact Bow Trail Dental.
Our gentle and experienced dentists can check your implant, clean around it, and make sure everything stays healthy for the long run.
Book your visit at any time; your smile deserves lasting care.
📍 Find us easily on the Google map and plan your visit today!