When the day has come and you're finally in your beautiful new All-on-X dental implants it may seem like you'll never have to worry about your teeth ever again, however ensuring a smooth healing process still requires cleaning your teeth regularly. Make sure to always do exactly as your doctor specifies, but in today's blog post we'll give a quick overview to better understand how to keep your new smile clean and fresh!
Brushing
Brushing remains a vital tool for daily cleaning. It is important to brush the entire All-on-4 bridge; teeth and gum area. Brushing the tongue reduces the bacteria in the mouth. Electric toothbrushes are superior in cleaning than a manual toothbrush.
Water Flosser / WaterPik
This tool is a must-have for every patient with an All-on-4 bridge. An oral irrigator is also known as a water flosser. Using jets of water this tool can clean around your All-on-4 dental implant to help prevent bleeding gums, inflammation, and gingivitis. Waterpik has Implant Denture Tip dt-100e attachment that is specifically designed for All-on-4 dental implants. The Implant Denture Tip has more of a dramatic hook to reach underneath the All-on-4 bridge. Another water irrigator is a manual plastic syringe with a curved tip such as the Monojet that also dislodges food or debris from under the bridge. Waterpik is preferred but the Monojet is an alternative.
Interdental Brush
Interdental brush is a small bristled brush that cleans between the implants. This is an excellent tool for food impaction that the toothbrush and water flosser may miss. An interdental brush can reach areas of your implants that a regular brush may not be able to reach. Avoid any metal interdental brushes such as proxy brushes that may scratch the bridges or injury the tissues.
Floss
Floss threaders are required to clean under and around the All-In-4 bridges. Superfloss has a floss threader at one end, soft spongy floss in the middle, and regular floss at the other end. Cut the regular floss (part after the spongy part) off, since there are no natural teeth. Use the hard thread of the floss to thread under the bridge. The spongy floss is then used to gently clean under the bridge and around the implants. Thread the floss under the bridge and in between the implants and gently slide the soft spongy floss across the bridge. However, using floss on an All-on-4 bridge may cause injury to the gums if used incorrectly. If injury occurs avoid flossing or irrigating under the bridge.
Mouthwash
Another classic tool that is proven to kill bacteria, fight gum inflammation, and promote overall oral health. Use a non-alcohol mouthwash twice a day after brushing and flossing to keep your new implants healthy.
Summary
Make sure you use the above tools for All-on-4 dental implant maintenance.
- After every meal, use water flosser such as Implant Denture Tip under the All-on-4
- Use your non-alcohol mouth rinse and water pick
- Electric toothbrushes provide more effective implant cleaning
- Make sure you get regular implant cleaning appointments with your hygienist.
All-on-4 dental implants can be a life-changing solution to extensive tooth loss and a preferred solution to dentures. However, regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist and hygienist are also essential to long-term results. Your providers can perform professional cleanings and carefully inspect the implants to assess the risk of damage. Any minor issue, such as a loosened screw or an area of inflammation, can be corrected before it becomes a more serious problem.
If you are interested in learning the best and latest home care techniques, we encourage you to reach out to our office. Our dentists and oral hygiene specialists have the knowledge and the skills to help patients achieve and maintain optimal dental health. Call for an appointment today at (801) 896-9761 or reach out online.
