How To Care For Your Dental Implants

How Should Post-Implant Care Be Done?

How Can You Make Your Implant Last Long?

You've had an implant or are considering getting one…
Now there's only one question on your mind:

"Doctor, how do I need to care for these implants so they last for many years without problems?"

An implant gains longevity not just on the day it's placed; but with the daily care you provide afterwards.
Without proper care, peri-implantitis, the implant version of "gum disease" in natural teeth, can develop, and there's even a risk of losing the implant.

In this article, I will explain the fundamental rules of post-implant care step by step; from brushing to interdental cleaning, from nutrition to the importance of check-ups.

An Implant Ultimately Behaves "Like a Tooth": If You Don't Care for It, It Deteriorates

The implant may be made of titanium, but the tissue around it:

• Gums,

• Jawbone,

is entirely your own tissue.
This means bacterial plaque can accumulate around the implant, gum inflammation can occur, and bone can resorb.

Therefore:

The thought, "I got implants, they won't decay now; I don't need to brush much"
is very wrong and is the implant's biggest enemy.

The correct approach is:

"I should clean my implant even more meticulously than my natural teeth."

The First Days: Your Dentist's Instructions = The Holy Text

The goal in the first days after implant placement is:
The proper healing of the wound and the beginning of the implant's fusion with the bone.

During this period, the following recommendations are generally given:

• Avoid vigorous rinsing, spitting for the first 24 hours.

• Avoid hot food and drinks on the first day.

• Avoid chewing very hard with that area for a few days.

• Use the prescribed medications (painkillers, etc.) regularly and as directed.

• If you smoke, try to absolutely avoid it at least during this period.

Additionally:

• When brushing, be gentle with the implant area for the first 1-2 days,

• Continue cleaning other areas carefully as usual.

At your first check-up appointment, your dentist will evaluate the stitches and the area and give you personalized recommendations such as:

• "You can now brush this area like this"

• "Let's clean that area with this brush / interdental brush"

After Healing is Complete: What Should the Daily Routine Be Like?

After the implant and your tooth (crown/bridge) on top are placed, this tooth should now be a part of your daily routine.

1. Brushing At Least Twice a Day

• In the morning and before going to bed at night,

• For at least 2 minutes,

• A brushing that covers all teeth and implant areas is essential.

Points to pay attention to:

• Very hard brushes can cause gum recession; usually medium/soft brushes are preferred.

• Around the implant, using the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line with small, vibrating movements (like sweeping) is effective.

• It's necessary to clean not just the top part of the implant, but also the line where it meets the gum; plaque accumulation is usually right there.

2. Interdental Cleaning (Dental Floss / Interdental Brush)

Around implants, especially if there is a bridge or multiple implants,
the areas between teeth cannot be fully cleaned with a brush alone.

Therefore:

• Interdental brush (like a tiny bottle brush)
  – Ideal for the spaces under implant bridges,
  – For wide gaps between teeth.

• Special implant floss / spongy dental floss
  – Used to navigate around bridge undersides and implant surroundings.

Your dentist can show you:

• Based on your oral structure
  – Which thickness of interdental brush,
  – Which type of dental floss you should use.

It may seem difficult at first, but within 1-2 weeks it becomes part of the routine.

3. Using a Water Flosser (Oral Irrigator) – Not Mandatory, But Beneficial

A water flosser (devices that spray water):

• By delivering pressurized water between teeth and implants,

• Helps remove food debris and some plaque.

Especially for people with:

• Implants under bridges,

• Limited manual dexterity,

• Who have had orthodontic treatment,

it can be very practical.

But the important point is:

A water flosser does not replace brushing;
it is an additional support alongside brushing + floss / interdental brush.

4. Mouthwashes: No One-Size-Fits-All Recommendation

Over-the-counter antiseptic mouthwashes can be beneficial for short-term use;
especially for:

• Patients who have recently had surgery,

• When brushing is difficult in the first days,

• Those with gum sensitivity and bleeding.

However:

• Long-term and unconscious mouthwash use
  – Can cause problems like taste changes with some mouthwashes,
  – Staining on teeth,
  – Disruption of the oral flora balance.

Therefore:

There is no general rule that "every implant patient must use mouthwash every day."

The most correct approach is:

• To follow your dentist's mouthwash recommendation specific to your situation.

Nutrition After Implants: What Can You Eat, What Should You Watch Out For?

After the permanent teeth are placed on the implants, the goal is:

"To be able to chew as comfortably as with natural teeth."

Generally:

• Hard-shelled foods (cracking nuts with teeth, chewing ice, etc.)
  – Are risky for both natural teeth and implants.

• Very sticky, sugary foods
  – Increase plaque accumulation around the implant
  – And can also create a risk of fracture/cracking in the prosthetics.

Things to pay attention to:

• In the first days, prefer softer, lukewarm foods.

• Even after healing is complete, absolutely avoid habits like cracking walnuts with your teeth, biting pens.

• Your diet being generally balanced and healthy is important for:
  – Bone,
  – Gums,
  – General immunity.

If You Grind Your Teeth at Night (Bruxism): You Need to Protect Your Implant Too

Nighttime teeth grinding:

• Is a serious factor that stresses
  – Natural teeth,
  – Fillings,
  – Crowns,
  – Implants.

If you notice:

• Jaw fatigue in the mornings,

• Headaches,

• #post-implant care #implant cleaning #dental implant hygiene #gum around implant #implant check-up interval

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  M. İhsan GÜRSOY

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