Page 68 - Are Dental Implants Right For You

Six: Process, Recovery Time and Home Care | 67
Brushing is your best defense against bacteria. You don’t have to be overly vigorous: a simple routine
of brushing for two (full) minutes in the morning, after every meal if you can, and before sleep will do the trick.
*Note: Your saliva naturally cleans your mouth
– but while you’re sleeping, it doesn’t clean your mouth as effectively... so brushing in the morning is very important, in order to get rid of any extra plaque that builds up overnight.
Finally, the added benefit of brushing regularly is that it stimulates your gums every day, which keeps them healthy – and gives them the strength to fit “snugly” around your implants (we’ll discuss the importance of this shortly).
You have to floss: You can’t reach everything with a toothbrush! And so flossing is crucial when it comes to getting into tight places that even the most thorough brushing won’t be able to reach.
For your natural teeth, you can use the floss you’ve always used. To floss your posts and/or bar, most dentists recommend a braided, or woven floss