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How to Floss Dental Implants in Plattsburgh

November 18, 2018

Filed under: Implant Dentistry — Tags: — adirondack @ 1:38 pm

woman flossing her teethHave you made the choice to replace your missing teeth with dental implants in Plattsburgh? That is great! Now that your smile is complete, it is time to protect your investment with the right oral hygiene habits. Although they are not subject to tooth decay, you must still brush and floss daily. If you do not, it could lead to an infection known as peri-implantitis, which will cause your dental implants to fail. Ensure your new smile lasts for several decades by taking the time to floss daily.

Caring for Dental Implants

Dental implants offer over a 95% 10-year success rate. Their long-term viability relies on keeping your mouth infection-free. The risk of failure is generally less than 5%, but it is most often caused by a preventable infection called peri-implantitis. It is like gum disease and destroys your oral structures. If it is not treated quickly, it could lead to the loss of your implants.

To protect your new smile from irreversible damage, you need to care for your dental implants. Besides brushing your teeth twice per day, take the time to floss you implants well to remove plaque and bacteria from around the abutments.

How to Floss Dental Implants

It does not matter if you floss before or after you brush your teeth. You can also floss in the morning or at night. There is no set time that makes the task more effective. No matter when you choose to do it, start with a high-quality dental floss that has earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Take 12 to 18 inches of floss, wrapping it around your middle fingers to create about a 2-inch space. Then, gently slide it up and down using a back-and-forth motion between your teeth and form a C shape around a tooth.

When flossing dental implants, work the floss to the base of it and wrap it around the abutment to form an X in the front. Use a crisscross motion to remove plaque and bacteria.

Whether flossing a natural tooth or a dental implant, use a new section of floss for each tooth and repeat the process as you work through your mouth.

As an alternative to traditional floss, many people have come to find a water flosser to be easier. The water irrigation combined with a diluted antimicrobial mouthrinse has shown to be extremely beneficial when removing biofilm and preventing irritation to the gum tissue.

Protect Your New Smile

Now that you have a complete smile, do not let anything increase your risk of failure. If a problem does develop, contact your periodontist in Plattsburgh and the first sign of a complication.

About Dr. Gordon Davis

Dr. Gordon Davis is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, and the New York Dental Association. He provides advanced services to improve oral functions. If you are ready to replace your missing teeth, contact Adirondack Periodontics, PLLC today to see if dental implants are right for you.

 

 

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