To preserve the health of your implant supported dentures, it is important to carefully clean them every day. The most important times to clean your teeth and abutments is the morning after eating breakfast and at night after you have eaten your last meal for the day. If your implants are removable, it is recommended that you remove and clean all detachable appliances and clean around the attachments, gum areas, and artificial teeth before going to sleep in order to reduce your risk of infections or other complications. The abutments are the most important area of the implant to keep clean. To ensure that you are able to brush thoroughly and properly, have a large mirror and good lighting.
Prior to brushing your teeth, run hot top water over the brush to soften the bristles. Next, it is recommended that you brush your teeth in the following order (for right-handed persons).
- Inner side of right hand molars
- Inner side of front teeth and canine
- Inner side of left hand molars
- Outer side of left hand molars
- Outer side of front teeth and canine
- Outer side of right-hand molars
When brushing your teeth, gums, and implant supported dentures in the order listed, follow these best brushing practices:
- Use short horizontal back and forward movements when brushing the inner and outer sides of the abutment pillars, holding the brush at an angle between the gum and abutment pillar.
- Use short horizontal movements to clean the rear side of the back teeth on each side
- Place the toothbrush against your gum and make a rotating motion upward as you drag the brush towards the chewing surfaces of your teeth. The brush should be held horizontally while brushing except when brushing the inner side of your front teeth, when the brush should be held vertically and brushed upward to the biting edges of your teeth.
- When you have finished brushing, draw floss backward and forward between the area where the denture touches the gum tissue.
- Once you are finished flossing, rinse your mouth with water to remove food particles and loosened plaque
If you follow these self-care instructions on a daily basis, you will prolong the durability of your implant supported dentures and enjoy good oral health.
Another important part in maintaining the cleanliness and health of your implant supported dentures and prolonging their durability is to continue scheduling regular dental exams at least every six months, or with greater frequency if necessary. These visits allow your dentist to ensure that your denture is fitting properly and make any necessary adjustments. X-rays may be taken to ensure that your attachments, abutments, and implants are still in the correct position. Attachments and clips wear easily and are typically replaced once or twice a year, so it is important to have them checked regularly. In addition to monitoring the health of your implant supported dentures, these visits are also an opportunity for your dentist to examine your overall oral health and address any issues that may have developed.
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