3 Tips For Effectively Flossing Your Teeth When You Have Dental Implants

17 July 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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You may have always been meticulous about flossing your teeth every day. However, since you recently received dental implants, you may wonder if there is anything you need to do differently. If so, use the following three tips for effectively flossing your teeth without damaging your new implants.

Use Waxed Floss

Usually, there is not that much of a difference between waxed and unwaxed dental floss, except that one has a smooth film on it. Each cleans the spaces between your teeth just as well as the other one does. 

However, after you have received new dental implants, you should opt to use waxed floss instead of unwaxed. Because the bottoms your new teeth may have an edge on them, the unwaxed floss is more likely to snag. This could result in dislodging your implant—in which case you'd have to visit your dentist to have it repaired.

The strings of the waxed floss are held tightly in place by the film. This decreases your risk of pulling the abutment or tooth out of place.

Wiggle When You Reach the Gum

When the time comes to floss your teeth, slip the floss from the top and slide it down to the bottom. Once you reach the gum, wiggle the floss to ensure that you have removed any food stuck in between both your natural and artificial teeth.

However, when you floss around your implant, gently glide the floss underneath to ensure you have removed any food that has gotten trapped under it. There may be a slight gap between the implant and gum line, so you want to make sure you reach that hidden area to keep bacteria from growing and possibly causing an infection around the abutment.

Slide the Floss Out Instead of Up

After you are finished flossing in between your teeth, do not slide the floss up. If you do this, you risk catching it on the bottom edge of the implant and pulling it out of place.

Instead, pull the floss out from between your teeth using a horizontal motion. This reduces any risk of catching it on your teeth while still effectively removing any food caught between them.

Using the above tips for flossing your teeth after getting dental implants can help you keep your new teeth clean and damage-free. If you have any further questions about how to care for your new implants, contact a dentist like Belgrade Dental Associates to see if they have any additional advice for you.