Bacteria and plaque can collect beneath and around the implant crown, increasing the risk of developing peri-implantitis. To reach these areas, consider using an angled-neck toothbrush or an interdental brush with a small head—particularly if your implant is positioned in the back of your mouth.
Make sure you're using a non-abrasive toothpaste and soft or extra-soft toothbrush, as harsh products could be too rough on your gums and restorations. Gently brush your implant restorations the same way you do your other teeth and then brush along the gumlines where plaque tends to be heaviest.
Brushing your teeth is recommended after dental implant placement. The cleaner we can keep your mouth and the surgical site itself, the lower the risk of infection. Brushing the surgical site itself should be done VERY GENTLY, allowing the antibiotic mouth rinse to do most of the cleaning in that area.
Do's for Dental Implant Care
DO choose a low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste. Using a normal OTC toothpaste containing fluoride is OK. There is no need to choose a special type of toothpaste, but look for the ADA Seal of Approval to find the ideal options.
An interdental brush is a small brush specially designed for cleaning between your teeth and implants, where a regular toothbrush doesn't reach. Using an interdental brush every day as a complement to tooth brushing is an easy and efficient method to keep your gums and teeth fresh and healthy.
Use toothpaste that lacks abrasive ingredients such as baking soda or stain-remover agents, since these ingredients may wear on acrylic and remove glaze from porcelain implants. Look for toothpaste specifically made for use on dental implants, or ask your dentist for toothpaste recommendations.
An interdental brush can reach areas of your implants that a regular brush may not be able to reach. Be sure only to use a nylon interdental brush to not scratch your implants.
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery rinse with warm salt water (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water); do not use mouth rinses such as Scope or Listerine. The day after surgery warm salt water rinses should be used at least 4-5 times a day, especially after meals.
Rinse with salt water
A salt water rinse always provides benefits to the entire mouth as a whole, but especially after a dental implant surgery is done. Rinse 2-3 times a day after the procedure, this will reduce the chance of infection while also cleansing the entire mouth.
You might notice a metal or white-colored material, which is the healing abutment that protrudes through the gum tissue. This post is attached to the implant, with a healing abutment to form the gum opening where the future tooth will be placed.
The surfaces that keep the implant in place are microscopically roughened, which also makes them difficult to clean. It can be challenging to clean dental implants, but studies have shown their rate of success is still quite high.
If you feel comfortable enough after the first day, then you can choose to lay on your side, but continue to keep your body elevated, with your neck still above heart level.
Once calculus has established itself, this deposit cannot be brushed or flossed off and can only be removed by a dental hygienist. Failure to do this can lead to receding gum tissue and bone loss and may result in the implant falling out.
A quarterly visit for routine maintenance and cleaning of your implants and dentures is a must. The visit can be as routine as scaling and cleaning or as thorough as removing the permanently attached dentures for a deep cleaning of the implant roots, depending on plaque buildup.
Oral Hygiene
Warm salt-water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and any healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.
Mouth Rinses
Use Peridex only during the first 2 weeks of healing. NOTE: Peridex may cause alteration of taste perception during use and may increase staining of teeth and other oral surfaces. To avoid this, use Peridex only during the first 2 weeks of the healing process. There is no need for prolonged use.
Dr Zybutz says that mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine digluconate can be very useful in the short term: 'I recommend Corsodyl to patients after surgery as it's antimicrobial and sticks to the gums for a long time so it's great for killing bacteria.
The VITIS Implant Toothbrush is a daily brush specifically designed for patients with dental implants, to provide a delicate and deep care within the whole mouth.
You can always ask your oral surgeon for more specific guidance, but in most cases, after the patient has healed fully from dental implant placement, the use of an electric toothbrush is perfectly safe for your implants.
We recommend abstaining from using an electronic toothbrush the first couple of weeks after the implant's placement – especially at the surgical site. Instead, patients should brush their teeth with a non-rotary brush in soft, gentle circular motions two to three times a day.
Regular rinsing is one of the most important aspects of healing dental implants. Rinsing helps to control the accumulation of bacteria, subsequently reducing the risk of infection. Patients must rinse the mouth once or twice a day with a dentist-approved mouthwash or a saltwater solution.
It takes between 1-2 weeks for the initial healing process. However, your implant must also “osseointegrate” with your jaw bone. This means it fully bonds with the bone, becoming a natural part of your mouth. This process can take 3-6 months or longer, depending on your case.
Most patients begin to experience significant improvements in their gums within a week of surgery, and their gums will be completely healed within 2 weeks of their treatment.
After 2 weeks, most patients are fully recovered. The implant site may feel slightly tender to the touch, but should feel completely healed and normal. The implant will continue to heal and bond with the jaw bone over the following 3-6 months, but the initial healing process will be over.