Dental implants are truly a marvel of modern medicine. Perhaps most importantly, there is no chance of decay as they are stronger and more durable than natural teeth. And of course, they give you a great smile.

Despite their superior physical properties, it is still very important that you take proper care of your dental implants. While the implants themselves might not decay, practising poor oral hygiene could lead to health complications with the rest of your mouth (or your remaining natural teeth).

Be Careful the First Few Days

Your mouth will be incredibly sensitive directly following the dental surgery. During this period, it is important that you avoid any stresses to your mouth. You might have an itch or an urge to tamper with the implants, but you must resist!

Do not poke around in there, and make sure to stick to soft foods for the first couple of days. It will take a while until your mouth can comfortably handle strenuous chewing.

Use the Special Mouthwash

Your dentist will likely have given you a special mouthwash to use with your new dental implants. For the initial period, use this mouthwash twice a day to keep the implants clean. After the initial period is up and you've finished the bottle, talk to your dentist as to whether you should continue to use special mouthwash (this will depend on your implant type).

Clean them Thoroughly Every Day

Just as with normal teeth, it is very important to brush the implants twice a day.

While the implants do not decay, it is still very important to use fluoride toothpaste, as the build-up of plaque on your implants could cause significant problems for the rest of your mouth (including but not limited to gingivitis).

Use an Inter-Dental Toothbrush

Your dentist may have given you or prescribed you a special toothbrush known as an inter-dental toothbrush. This toothbrush is specifically designed with manoeuvrability in mind, so as to allow you to reach behind bridges, braces and any other pieces of equipment that might be hiding in your mouth.

Use the toothbrush to get to those hard-to-reach places, as plaque can build up anywhere in your mouth — it's important to give every area a thorough clean!

Keep Flossing

Again, just because your new implants are impervious to decay doesn't mean that you can neglect your oral health.

Your gums (and your remaining natural teeth) are just as important as your implants and require the proper care and attention to ward off disease.

Add flossing in to your brushing routine and you'll be keeping those implants good as new for years to come!

Share