3 Tips To Avoid Scratching Your Dental Implants

Dental implants can look and feel much like natural teeth, making them a wonderful choice for someone who has lost one or more teeth due to injury, dental problems or other issues. However, if you want to enjoy your dental implants, you have to take good care of them. For example, one problem you have to be worried about is scratching them, which can make them unsightly to look at and can make them prone to staining and other problems. Luckily, following these tips can help you avoid scratching your dental implants so you can keep them looking their best.

1. Avoid Abrasive Toothpaste

One great thing about dental implants when compared to dentures is the fact that they are supposed to be cleaned in a similar fashion to how you would clean your natural teeth: with a toothbrush and toothpaste. However, if you want to avoid scratching your implants, you'll want to use a toothpaste that is not abrasive. For example, many toothpastes include baking soda, which is a natural abrasive substance that is used for everything from cleaning teeth to cleaning bathrooms. Even though it might be a good choice for cleaning your natural teeth, it can cause scratches on your implants over time. Therefore, you'll want to look for a toothpaste that does not include baking soda or other abrasive ingredients for best results.

2. Don't Chew on Hard Foods

Chewing on hard foods can be a bad habit that can cause scratches or chips on your dental implants, as well as causing damage to your natural teeth. Avoid the temptation to chew on ice, hard candy or other hard items for best results.

3. Tell Your Dental Hygienist

Your dental hygienist should be aware of your dental implants and should take special care when cleaning them at your appointments. However, implants can look so natural that they might not be immediately obvious to a dental hygienist who might not be familiar with your dental records. This is why it's important to mention that you have dental implants at your teeth cleaning appointments, so your dental hygienist can use the proper tools and avoid scratching or otherwise damaging them.

As you can see, there are a few steps that you can take to avoid scratching your dental implants. It is important to follow these tips if you want to keep your dental implants in top-notch condition for as long as possible. If you have trouble with your implants, contact your dentist or the oral surgeon who placed them, like Oral Surgery Associates Inc.

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