Updated: 11.22.25
If you've chosen a dental implant as your tooth replacement solution, you probably enjoy the ease with which you can chew and smile! A dental implant at Emery Village Dental is the closest tooth replacement to a natural tooth because it restores your root and tooth. This provides you with the full chewing function you need to eat and enjoy your food, and the peace of mind to smile confidently. Your implant can last for years with proper care. Simple daily habits protect your investment and keep your smile healthy for decades to come.
Now that you're enjoying your new smile, we want to discuss how to care for and maintain it. Here are some helpful tips for caring for your North York tooth implant.
What your dental implants need to thrive:
- Daily brushing and flossing to prevent buildup around your implant
- Regular dental visits to catch minor issues early
- Avoiding hard foods to protect your crown from cracks
- Monitoring your gums to help you spot peri-implantitis
- Quitting smoking or tobacco improves your chances of implant success
Let's talk about each of these tips in more detail.
#1 A Consistent Home Care Routine
Daily brushing and flossing are one of the best ways you can protect your smile. Brushing twice daily for two minutes removes the plaque and bacteria that build up on your teeth after meals. Flossing removes the buildup from between your teeth.
Eliminating plaque helps protect your smile from tooth decay, which can be the downfall of a dental implant.
#2 Regular Teeth Cleanings and Checkups with Your North York Dentist
Visiting your dentist every six months for professional teeth cleanings and exams is another way to guard the health of your dental implant. Your hygienist will remove any plaque buildup you've missed at home during your teeth cleaning. At the same time, your dentist can spot problems with your implant or other restorations before they become more problematic.
#3 Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods
Like natural teeth, avoiding biting into hard foods directly helps protect your dental implant. Cut hard foods like apples and raw carrots into smaller pieces so that you can enjoy them. Avoid sticky foods like taffy or caramels that could pull off your implant crown.
#4 Monitor Your Gums for Early Warning Signs
Pay close attention to the tissue surrounding your implant. Peri-implantitis poses the biggest threat to your dental implant’s long-term health. This condition is similar to gum disease but attacks the tissue around your implant.
The healthy gum tissue around your implant should look pink and firm. Keep an eye out for redness, swelling, bleeding, or pain when you brush or floss. These signs may indicate that bacteria are causing inflammation. If that is the case, it’s time to see your dentist and have them check it out.
#5 Break Harmful Habits That Threaten Your Implant
Smoking and tobacco use are serious risk factors for your dental implant. Tobacco throttles the flow of blood into your gums, slows healing, and increases your risk of implant failure and peri-implantitis. Quitting smoking gives your implant the best chance at lasting for many years to come.
Your teeth are not tools! They are not box cutters or scissors. Never use your implant to open a package or hold non-food objects in your mouth.
Protect Your Investment with Expert Care
The team at Emery Village Dental would love to partner with you to ensure that your implant stays healthy for many years to come.
If you have questions about your smile or dental implant care, contact your North York dentist at (437) 900-8266 for answers. Schedule your next checkup today and give your implant the professional attention it deserves.
