Dental implants are no reason to skip good oral health habits, as oral hygiene is about much more than the teeth themselves. For those with all-on-4 dental implants, brushing and flossing are still critical tools to battle dental issues.

Explore how to clean all-on-4 dental implants below, why it’s so crucial, and how to avoid common oral hygiene mistakes in keeping the implants clean. 

Why Cleaning Dental Implants is Important

Even with dental implants, no matter the sort, bacteria can still grow and cause infection or food debris leading to gum disease, and a host of other issues that affect other parts of the mouth. Beyond maintaining overall dental health, not regularly cleaning your dental implants can cause implant failure which can lead to a costly replacement or impair their function and lifespan. 

Maintaining good oral cleaning habits, proper teeth cleaning techniques, and in-Office cleanings combined help keep your dental implants working for as long as intended while also combating other dental issues. It’s crucial to keep brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash even with all-on-4 dental implants. 

What Happens When All-on-4 Dental Implants Aren’t Cleaned?

It was mentioned, but it’s worth doubling down on. Cleaning your dental implants is critical for keeping good oral health, but also to protect the implants themselves. If you neglect a good cleaning routine, you risk:

• Infection around the dental implants
• Damage to teeth, blood vessels, and other tissues in the mouth.
• Nerve damage, which causes pain, numbness, and tingling sensations.
• Issues with the sinuses when the implants are in the upper jaw. 

How to Clean Your All-on-4 Dental Implant

How to clean your all-on-4 dental implants may appear obvious, but dental implants usually require a few extra specialty tools on top of the usual teeth cleaning equipment:

• Soft toothbrush: You’ll want a soft and thin bristled toothbrush for gentle cleaning
• Soft picks: extremely thin toothpicks that are better for tight spaces
• End tuft brush: a small type of brush that can reach the surface of the bridge’s intersection and the gum crevice
• Mouthwash: You’ll want mouthwash that is specifically designed to soothe oral sores and other irritations that dental implants can cause. 

With the right tools ready, let’s go over how you clean your all-on-4 dental implants:

Brushing Techniques for Your Implants

Using a toothbrush for your dental implants isn’t any different technique-wise, you can brush them as you would normal teeth. Make sure to pay specific attention to the area where the implants meet the gum line though. 

How to Floss Between Your Dental Implants

Using floss twice a day is a given for general teeth care, but with dental implants, floss threaders should be used after every meal. 

Using floss is a bit different with the all-on-4 implants, as you’ll want to thread under the bridge using the floss’s firm head and floss around the implants carefully with the sponge floss. 

Using End-Tuft Brushes

The end-tuft toothbrush shouldn’t replace a normal one, but it’s a great extra tool to get to any tough areas, like where the bridge intersects with the gums. This is an important step as any food or area left unscrubbed can contribute to bacteria growth, risking infection and damaging the dental implants. 

Rinsing with Water or Mouthwash

Besides not wanting to leave all the toothpaste to sit in your mouth, you’ll want to clear out all the food debris scrubbed off and bacteria brushed away from the tongue. You can use Water, but antibacterial mouthwash or mouthwash that targets oral sores and other irritations common with dental implants is best. 

Additional Tips for Maintaining Clean Dental Implants

The standard cleaning routine for the all-on-4 dental implants is fairly similar to regular brushing habits, with some extra tools and attention paid to areas around them, but some additional tips can only benefit:

• Use a nightguard if you’re a teeth grinder
• Maintain a regular dental cleaning appointment
• use a water pick or water flosser
• Brush the inside of your cheeks to get excess food particles
• Remove and soak the dental implants in denture cleaner once a week for a deep clean

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Having a regular cleaning routine is the best way to protect your oral health and dental implants, but there are common mistakes people make in this routine that you should avoid:

1. Brushing too aggressively: brushing too hard damages the gum tissue and the surface of the implants. Use a soft toothbrush and keep the brushing gentle to clean without doing any damage. 
2. Neglecting regular dentist visits: professional cleaning is a must, they not only get in deeper and have better tools, but it’s an opportunity to track your health and keep an eye on your all-on-4 dental implants, prolonging their lifespan. 

Consulting Your Dentist for Proper Guidance

If unsure of how to best keep your dental implants clean, it never hurts to ask your dentist, especially if there are signs of irritated gums or aggressive brushing. Dental implants can be costly to replace and you’ll want to keep them in good condition for as long as possible. 

We at Bellevue aim to help all our patients improve their smiles and work with them to ensure that the price doesn’t prevent them from the smiles they deserve. If you’re searching for a dentist in Bellevue to help restore your smile with dental implants, look no further than the team at Bellevue Dentist.

Dr. Siamak Najafi is an accomplished dentist who has trained with the world’s leading dental pioneers. These days he teaches dentists from all over the world how to enhance the health and appearance of their patients’ smiles through state-of-the-art dentistry services.

Dr. Don Jayne is a nationally recognized leader in dentistry. He focuses on providing unparalleled expertise in cosmetic, general, implant, and sedation dentistry. He is dedicated to providing you with the most advanced techniques and effective technology available in dental care. Click below for more information.

Bellevue Dentist | Cleaning Instructions