3 Tips For Flossing With Dental Implants

As your dentist probably told you when your dental implants were first put in, taking good care of them will help them last much longer. For example, exercising proper dental hygiene when you are at home can have a big impact on how long your dental implants last. Along with regular brushing, it's also important to floss around your implants to get rid of food particles that could cause infection. However, you should be careful when flossing to prevent damage to your dental implants. These are a few flossing tips to help you keep your implants in great shape when you're cleaning around them.

1. Use the Right Type of Floss

When purchasing floss, look for a type that does not have a wax coating. You can even look for floss that is advertised for dental implant wearers, or you can ask your dentist for suggestions. Floss that does not have a wax coating is thinner and is less likely to get snagged underneath your implant, which can help prevent it from pulling at your implant while you are flossing your teeth.

2. Be Thorough and Consistent

Even those with the best at-home dental hygiene habits often hate to floss. It can be easy to rush through this job or to skip it altogether, at least a few times a week. However, flossing around your dental implant each day is particularly important. The area around your implant can be particularly susceptible to food particles and bacteria, so take your time to clean around all sides of your dental implant to get rid of any debris.

3. Do it Carefully

Don't jerk your floss from between your implants or the space between your natural tooth and an implant. Doing so can be hazardous for the implant and can cause it to fail, particularly if you do it repetitively. Instead, be gentle when removing your floss, and remove it from the side, at an angle. This will help prevent it from putting too much pressure on the bottom of your implant, which can eventually lead to failure.

If you don't practice a regular flossing routine with your dental implants, then they won't last as long as they would if you took good care of them. Fortunately, it's easy to floss properly with your dental implants. If you follow these tips, you can establish a routine that will allow you to get rid of food particles and bacteria that could otherwise cause problems. Click here for more info about properly caring for your implants.

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