Although CeraSmile™ replaces all of your missing teeth, it’s still important to care for your implant bridge just as much as you would a natural smile. One of the biggest misconceptions about caring for implant bridges is that you don’t need to floss. However, flossing is incredibly important for keeping your gums healthy to keep the implants in place. Learn why you should floss your implant bridge, how to do it and other CeraSmile™ maintenance tips.
Why Flossing Your Implant Bridge is Important
Just because you have dental implants and a bridge doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about gum disease because you no longer have real teeth. If anything you should be more concerned. If you get gum disease while you have CeraSmile™, there’s a good chance the infection can cause the implants to fail. Gum disease infects the gums and can cause bone loss. When bone loss occurs, the implants have less support for stability. This is why it’s so important to practice good oral hygiene such as flossing with your new CeraSmile™. The better you care for it, the longer it will last!
How to Floss with CeraSmile™
To floss your implant bridge, you have to get the floss between the bridge and your gums. The easiest way to accomplish this is by removing your bridge (if it’s removable), or using a floss threader. There are also special flosses that have a plastic point on the end to omit the need for a threader. Once you poke the floss between the bridge and your gums, you will move it along the bridge and floss around the implant surfaces. The goal is to remove as much plaque and bacteria from the bridge as possible. We recommend flossing once per day, preferably at night.
Other CeraSmile™ Maintenance Tips
Aside from flossing regularly, there are other maintenance tips to keep your CeraSmile™ looking and feeling great. It’s also important to brush your teeth twice a day, just like you would natural teeth. This will remove plaque and prevent bacteria from building up. You should also still brush your tongue to freshen your breath and remove bacteria. If flossing is difficult, an oral irrigator can help you remove plaque and bacteria from beneath the bridge. However, flossing is much more effective. Another option is using an interproximal brush that looks like a pipe cleaner to brush around the implant and between the bridge and gums.
With these CeraSmile™ maintenance tips, you can expect your beautiful new smile to last for the rest of your life. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your CeraSmile™ dentist. If you want to learn more about CeraSmile™, find a dentist near you today!
