Flossing your new dental implants may seem like no big deal, but the truth is that with dental implants you’ll not only need to take extra special care of your smile, but you’ll also need to make a few important changes to how you do it. Here’s why flossing with dental implants is so important, and why you should be very careful when you do.
Why Do I Need to Floss My Dental Implants?
Flossing dental implants may not seem important- after all, you can’t get cavities in them, right? But the truth is that even though your dental implants can’t get cavities, your real teeth still can, and you can still get dangerous conditions like gum disease, which could lead to dental implant failure and more tooth loss. Thus, even if you have no real teeth remaining, it is very important to floss between your dental implants.
The Peri-Implant Seal
Flossing with dental implants is equally important as flossing with your natural teeth. The difference, however, is that when you floss around real teeth, you can push the floss into your gum pocket without injuring your gums. That’s because they are attached to the tooth via the periodontal ligament. Not only is this very strong, it’s also full of nerves so if you’re doing anything harmful, you’ll feel pain and know to stop.
However, gums don’t attach to your dental implants via periodontal ligaments. Instead, they are secured through a much more fragile seal known as a peri-implant seal. This does not have any nerves, and thus if it breaks, it will not register pain. Worse yet, breaking it is very easy and can allow bacteria into the gum pocket and allow access to your jawbone, where it can damage the bone and even lead to dental implant failure. Thus, be sure to floss around your prosthetics with an abundance of caution.
How to Floss with Dental Implants
Flossing gently is essential to keeping your dental implants and gums healthy. Never push the floss down into the gum pocket. If you are not comfortable attempting to floss delicately, it is recommended that you try alternative methods of flossing such as a water flosser, which can help remove debris from between your teeth, but is much gentler and should not break the peri-implant seal.
Flossing with Implant Dentures
Flossing implant dentures is slightly different than flossing individual implants. Because you cannot floss between the crowns and your gums, you needn’t worry about breaking the peri-implant seal on the prosthetic itself. Unfortunately, however, food and debris still can become trapped underneath the prosthetic, between the artificial gum and your real gums. Thus, cleaning implant dentures well is very important. For this type of restoration, it is recommended that in addition to flossing the prosthetic, you use special tools like a water flosser and interdental brushes to help keep the area between the prosthetic and your gums clean.
Remember, though they’re not your real teeth, it’s still very important that you floss your dental implants just like your natural smile. This is vitally important to both keep your gums and bones healthy, but also to prevent dental implant failure. If you have any questions or concerns about proper cleaning, please contact your dentist for help.
About Dr. Skupny
Dr. Jeffrey Skupny earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Florida State University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the prestigious University of Florida College of Dentistry. He is a past President of the Collier County Dental Association, and a proud member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the International Team for Implantology, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Naples Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Skupny is passionate about continuing education, having taken courses through Spear Education, the Dawson Academy, and the Misch International Implant Institute. He is a Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, and West Coast Dental District. To schedule an appointment for dental implants at Island Coast Dentistry, please visit our website or call us today at 239-261-5566.