How to Floss with Dental Implants: Why It Matters and How to Do It

Dental implants are one of the most popular ways for patients to replace missing teeth. This is the only option that replaced both the grown and roots of the tooth. They are commonly made from titanium and are inserted through the gums and into the jawbone. Dental implants bond to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, which makes them as durable and permanent as your natural teeth.

If you get dental implants, it’s important to take good care of your smile. Though brushing is a key part of oral hygiene, so is flossing. Read on to learn the proper method of flossing with dental implants and why it’s such a crucial step.

Why Is Flossing with Dental Implants So Important?

While brushing your teeth removes plaque from your smile, it doesn’t get in between your pearly whites. If you don’t floss every night, then you’re leaving 40% of plaque on your teeth. This sharply raises your risk of developing cavities between your teeth. It also makes you more likely to develop gum disease. Even though dental implants aren’t made from the same material as your natural teeth, it’s equally as important to floss at least once per day.

Why Flossing with Dental Implants Is Different

Just like with your natural teeth, flossing with dental implants is an important part of keeping your smile in good condition. Even though they can’t develop cavities, that doesn’t mean that dental implants can’t become damaged. If oral bacteria builds up and starts attacking your gums, this can lead to an infection called periodontal disease. Untreated periodontal disease can cause a range of issues, including gum recession, loose teeth, and even implant failure.

4 Steps for Flossing with Dental Implants

Now that we’ve established why flossing with dental implants is so important, what’s the proper way to do it? When flossing, be sure to follow these three steps:

• Step #1: Get an 18-inch piece of dental floss.
• Step #2: Wrap the floss around your middle fingers, leaving two or three inches to work with.
• Step #3: Gently slide the dental floss between each tooth and dental implant in a “C” motion.
• Step #4: Repeat this process until each tooth and implant has been thoroughly cleaned.

As you can see, flossing with dental implants is a vital part of keeping your smile healthy. With the above steps, you should be able to keep gum disease and other dental issues at bay!