Flossing your natural teeth is an excellent way to clean away particles of food, bits of plaque, and dangerous oral bacteria that could cause cavities and gum disease. But if you have dental implants, flossing as usual will look a little different. Here’s how to ensure that you’re protecting your prosthetics, and how not injure your gums when flossing your new smile!
The Peri-Implant Seal
When you floss your real teeth, you can easily push the floss into the pocket of the gum without harming it. This is because the gums are securely attached to your teeth by periodontal ligaments. Not only are these ligaments extremely powerful, but they also can feel pain, so if you push too hard with your dental floss, you’ll know it.
With dental implants, you no longer have the benefit of periodontal ligaments surrounding your prosthetic. Instead, you have something called the peri-implant seal. The peri-implant seal does not have any nerves, and because of this if you are too aggressive with the dental floss, your gums won’t signal you to stop flossing. Because of this, you can easily injure the tissue surrounding the dental implant when you floss.
The Importance of Flossing with Dental Implants
Even if you don’t have any remaining natural teeth, you’ll still need to floss your dental implants daily. That’s because even though you can’t get cavities in your prosthetics, you can still get gum disease, and a condition called peri-implantitis, which could cause implant failure. Thus, to ensure that your new dental implants stay securely in place for a lifetime, it is recommended that you gently floss between each tooth (implant or real) daily. If for any reason you cannot safely floss around your prosthetic without the risk of breaking the peri-implant seal, do not attempt to do so and schedule an appointment with your dentist to have your gums examined.
How to Floss with Dental Implants
Flossing with dental implants can be easily done in just a few steps. Here’s how to ensure that you do it safely and properly:
- Using an 18-inch string of dental floss, gently slide it up and down between each tooth. You can use a floss threader to help reach underneath the dental implant if you need assistance.
- Rub the floss alongside the implant and the crown, careful to remove any debris.
- Move the floss around the base of the tooth and underneath it, creating a C formation. Gently pull the floss out, repeating between your other teeth with a clean piece of floss each time.
- If this is too painful or difficult, try using a water flosser (also known as a water irrigator) instead.
Remember, flossing your teeth is an important part of your oral health care routine. Whether you have just one or many more dental implants, this vital step will help protect your gums, jawbone, and any remaining teeth from dangerous plaque and bacteria that could cause tooth decay, tooth loss, and dental implant failure.
About Our Practice
At Jacksonville Dental Excellence, we are proud to provide your complete dental implant treatment in-house. Dr. Ryan Johnson and Dr. Rose Johnson work together with their trusted team of specialists to customize your procedure using the latest 3D Cone Beam Scanner technology. This allows for a more secure placement and better odds for dental implant success.
If you would like to learn more about how dental implants can help you, or if you have any questions about their care, please contact us via our website or call us today at 904-895-4536.