Wait…Can My Dental Implant Get a Cavity?

Before you decided to get dental implants in Blaine, you probably did plenty of research online. Among all the benefits you read about, you likely saw that all you need to do to take care of them is brush and floss like normal. Why is this the case? Aren’t they made of metal and porcelain? Can dental implants get cavities? The answer is actually more nuanced than you might think, revealing how daily oral hygiene helps in ways you might not have considered before.

And the Answer is…

…no, dental implants cannot get cavities.

BUT, before you click off, that doesn’t mean you can skip brushing and flossing!

Why Oral Hygiene Matters for Implants

While dental implants can’t develop decay like your real teeth, the gum and bone supporting the new root can accumulate bacteria. Without regular cleaning, this can lead to an infection similar to gum disease called peri-implantitis.

What starts as some tenderness and redness in the area can eventually lead to a painful and loose implant that needs to be replaced.

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing do much more than simply remove food particles and freshen your breath. They also clear out the bacteria responsible not just for cavities, but a wide array of oral infections that can impact your teeth (real or prosthetic), bite, and soft tissues.

The Ideal Routine for Dental Implants

Fortunately, cleaning your dental implants doesn’t require some special or time-intensive routine that is going to alter your day. You simply need to follow some best practices, which include:

• Brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day—once in the morning and evening.
• Flossing in the evening right before bed.
• Rinsing with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
• Seeing your dentist at least twice a year for checkups.

This last one is especially important because, while your brush and floss can certainly accomplish a lot, everyone has trouble spots in their mouth where bacteria and plaque tend to gather and be missed. Professional cleanings can target these areas that you can’t take care of at home, which for many people, includes the important space around their dental implants.

In essence, the best approach is to treat your implants like real teeth, which should be easy to do since they look, feel, and function just like nature! By taking just a few minutes each day to clean your mouth, you can ensure your complete smile will stand the test of time.

About the Practice

Led by Drs. Green, Case, and Ellis, Imagine Smiles was started with the goal of creating a practice that prioritizes patients over economics, offering the best treatments and technology without the restrictions of insurance. Now, our patients enjoy fully personalized care and conservative treatments that utilize environmentally safe materials that not only serve someone’s smile, but their entire body.

For more information about how dental implants can rebuild your smile for life, contact the office online or dial (763) 269-8650.