How to Clean All-On-4 Dental Implants

How to Clean All-On-4 Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth, with the implant post being made from titanium and the bespoke crown created from porcelain, meaning that neither element can become decayed. The same applies to All-On-4 dental implants, which are a unique, same-day tooth replacement option for people with multiple missing teeth.

All-On-4 dental implants are a set of four implants that are installed in strategic points within your jaw so that they are secure and stable enough to support a full arch denture. This means all of your teeth are in your upper or lower jaw. Yet despite being completely artificial, it’s still important to keep your All-On-4 dental implants clean.

Why Is It Necessary to Clean Dental Implants?

Just like our natural teeth, our dental implants can become coated in plaque. This is the thin, sticky, clear film that forms on our teeth as a result of sugars in the food and drink we consume interacting with the bacteria found in our mouth. Plaque may not be able to decay the visible part of All-On-4 dental implants, but it can start to spread onto the gums if it’s not removed. Plaque contains millions of bacteria, and these start to cause irritation, soreness, and eventually infection. These are better known as gum disease – a progressive condition that can lead to a range of different dental problems, including:

 

• Bad breath
   

• Pus in your gums and around the implants
   

• Bleeding gums
   

• Pain in your mouth and jaw
   

• High temperature
   

• Inflammation
   

• Wobbly or loose dental implants

If gum disease becomes severe enough, it can cause your implants to fail altogether. For this reason, as well as keeping your implants looking at clean and attractive as possible, you should make cleaning and flossing your All-On-4 dental implants a priority.

How to Clean All-On-4 Dental Implants

We’ve established that you need to keep your dental implants clean, but this involves more than just a cursory brush once a day. In fact, you should pay just as much time and attention to brushing as you would if it were your natural teeth. This includes:

• Brushing your implanted teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste for at least two minutes twice each day, paying special attention the area where the teeth meet the gum. Use a soft-bristled electric brush so that you don’t cause any damage to the crowns or your gums.
   

• Using floss to remove any food debris and bacteria that might be stuck under the bridge.
   

• Rinsing your mouth with water and a non-alcohol based antibacterial mouthwash.
   

• Be sure to clean the top of your tongue and the insides of your cheeks to remove any bacteria and tiny food particles, which could also transfer back onto your teeth and gums.

Patients with All-On-4 dental implants should also make sure that they attend their regularly scheduled dental check-ups as advised by their dentist. Your dentist will be able to monitor the condition of your dental implants and ensure that they aren’t adversely affected by decay.

For more advice on how to keep your All-On-4 implants in great condition and your mouth healthy, visit Progressive Dental & Associates in Matteson, IL. Call 708-980-0133 to schedule an appointment today.