Caring for your dental implants at home

Dental implants stay healthy the same way natural teeth do: through steady daily care and regular visits to your dentist. The gums around an implant need as much attention as the teeth beside it. This page covers the daily habits that matter most over the long term. For instructions right after your implant visit, see our post-op care page. If your dentist gave you instructions for your own case, always follow those first, since your situation may differ from the general advice here.

Daily cleaning

Brush morning and night, giving each session two minutes. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, either manual or electric, and a toothpaste that is not harsh. Rough toothpastes can scratch the surface of crowns and the parts of an implant that show.

Take extra care along the gum line around the implant, where plaque collects. Angle the brush toward the gum and use gentle strokes. Keep cleaning even if the area feels tender, but be gentle, and tell your dentist if it stays sore.

Cleaning between teeth around implants

Plaque collects in the small gaps around an implant crown just as it does between natural teeth. Clean there every day. Options include:

• Interdental brushes, which fit into the gap next to the implant
• A water flosser, which rinses along the gum line with a pulsing stream of water
• Floss made for implants, if your dentist recommends it

Not every tool suits every mouth. Ask your dentist or hygienist which one fits the shape of your implant and how to use it.

Habits that can harm implants

A few habits are worth leaving behind:

• Tobacco in any form. Smoking and chewing tobacco can irritate gum tissue and slow healing, and they affect the gums and bone that support an implant.
• Chewing ice, hard candy or pens. Hard items can chip or loosen a crown.
• Opening packages or bottles with your teeth.
• Grinding or clenching. If you wake with a sore jaw, tell your dentist, who can discuss options.

Eating a varied diet is good for your gums, and fewer sugary snacks means less risk to the natural teeth beside an implant.

Protect them with a mouthguard

If you play contact or ball sports, a mouthguard helps protect your implants and your natural teeth from a blow to the face. A mouthguard that fits well is more comfortable to wear. Ask your dentist what type suits you, particularly if you have several implants.

Regular checkups

At a checkup your dentist examines the gum tissue around each implant, looks at how the crown sits, and cleans spots that are tough to reach at home. Your dentist may take X-rays when they are needed. Your dentist tells you how often to visit, and this can differ from person to person, so ask at your next appointment. Bring any questions about your care routine, and ask for a demonstration if you want to check your technique.

Choosing the right tools

The right tools make daily cleaning easier and gentler on your gums. Your dentist or hygienist can show you what suits the shape of your implants.

Your toothbrush

Choose a soft-bristled brush, manual or electric, with a head small enough to reach behind your back teeth. Replace it about every three to four months.

Your toothpaste

Pick a toothpaste that is not harsh, because rough pastes can scratch the surfaces of crowns. If you are not sure which one suits you, ask your dentist.

Brushes and rinses for the gaps

Interdental brushes come in different sizes, and a size that is too big or too small will not clean well. Ask your dentist which size fits each gap. If you are thinking of using a mouth rinse, ask whether one suits you.

Caring for different kinds of implants

Daily cleaning follows the same principle however many teeth your implants replace: keep plaque off the implant crown and the gum around it.

A single implant

A single implant crown sits between natural teeth. Clean both sides of the crown, and the neighboring teeth, as you would any tooth.

Several implants

If you have more than one implant, check each one in the mirror. Gaps between implant crowns and the gums are the places plaque collects first.

Questions about caring for implants

Can an implant get a cavity?

The implant post itself does not decay like a natural tooth. The gums around it, and the natural teeth beside it, can still develop problems if plaque is left behind, so cleaning stays important.

Do I still need checkups?

Yes. Your dentist tells you how often to visit, and the answer can differ from person to person.

What if my gums bleed around an implant?

Mention it to your dentist. Bleeding may point to inflammation around the implant, and catching it early makes it simpler to manage.

Keeping the gums around implants healthy

Healthy gums hold an implant in place, so gum care matters as much as tooth care. Red, swollen or bleeding gums can be signs of gum disease, so mention them to your dentist. You can read more on our gum disease page.

Crowns on implants

An implant is topped with a crown that looks and works like a natural tooth. Brush and clean around it every day, and mention a crown that feels loose or uneven. Our dental crowns page explains crowns in general.

A full set of new teeth on implants

If you have a full set of new teeth held by implants, daily cleaning follows the same principles, with extra attention around and beneath the teeth. Read about full-arch implants on our page.

If something feels wrong

Pain that does not settle, swelling or a loose crown is worth a call. For urgent problems, see our emergency dentist page.

Dry mouth and your implants

A dry mouth can make plaque build up faster. Sip water through the day, and tell your dentist if your mouth is often dry, since some medicines can cause it.

Signs to report to your dentist

Call your dentist soon if you notice:

• Bleeding or swelling around an implant
• A crown or implant that feels loose
• Pain or discomfort that does not go away
• Redness, a bad taste or a change in how the gums look
• A bite that suddenly feels different

Early attention keeps small concerns small. You do not need to be sure something is wrong before you call.

Source: American Dental Association, Home Oral Care.