Dental implants are among the best and high-tech solutions to regain your smile. These restorations are made to appear, feel and act like natural teeth regardless of having single implants, multiple or full arch replacement with all-on-4 implants. However, one of the frequent questions that many patients will ask after the procedure is whether food can get under their implants.
The answer to this short question is yes, in a few instances, there is a chance that the food particles will be trapped around or under your implants. This does not however translate to failure of your implants or that you have a serious problem. You can maintain the maintenance of your dental implants in a clean, comfortable, and long-lasting condition with the help of the right oral hygiene and several easy practices.
We shall discuss why there may be food under your implants, how to avoid it and what to do should this be the case.
How Dental Implants Work.
To understand why food may get stuck, it is good to learn the structure of the implants. Dental implant is a component of three parts:
- Implant post – This is a titanium/zirconia screw that joins in with your jawbone so as to replace your tooth root.
- Abutment – This is a part that connects the implant post to the crown or a bridge.
- Crown or prosthetic – This refers to the part that can be seen as a copy of your natural tooth or teeth.
All-on-4 implants have 4 posts that are placed in strategic positions to hold a complete arch of the teeth. The design has outstanding stability and strength, and is thus a great choice in patients who have lost most or all of their teeth.
Although dental implants are accurately placed, there tend to be tiny gaps, in which food particles may accumulate, around the gum or under the prosthetic bridge. This is absolutely natural and can be managed with proper care.
Reasons Food Could Get Under Your Implants.
There are a number of reasons that could lead to the food debris being under your dental implants or All-on-4 bridge:
- Implant Design and Placement.
The outlines of your restoration and the form of your gums may form tiny spaces in which food may be trapped. This is particularly in the case of All-on-4 implants where a complete bridge is placed across the gums with a small gap to permit cleaning.
- Food Texture
Fibrous, sticky or hard food-stuffs, such as nuts, popcorn or spinach, may easily fit into small spaces between your implant and your gums.
- Gum Recession Over Time
Slight gum recession can take place with time as in the case of natural teeth. This may lead to the food particles slipping under the implant crown or bridge easily.
- Improper Cleaning Habits
In case you miss flossing, water flossing or professional cleaning the plaque and food debris would accumulate around your implants and this can cause irritation or even infection.
Is Food Under Your Implants Dangerous?
A little food getting stuck here and there is not in itself bad, but leaving it there too long may lead to a number of problems:
- Poor breath due to trapped particles.
- Sores or pain of the gums surrounding the implant.
- Growth of bacteria which can cause inflammation (peri-implantitis).
- Loss of stability of the implants in case of infection.
To avoid such issues, regular dental cleaning is necessary. It is important to remember even though dental implants do not decay the same way that natural teeth do, the gums and the surrounding bone do require protection against bacteria.
Prevention of Food Under the Implants.
Consistency and good hygiene are all that is needed in keeping your dental implants. The following are recommendations by our professionals at Uptown Cosmetic Dentistry:
- Use a Water Flosser
One of the most useful tools in the maintenance of the implants is a water flosser (or oral irrigator). It uses a high pressure stream of water to get into the debris under bridges and in the margins of the gumline- areas that the traditional floss may fail to get into.
- Try Super Floss or Implant Floss.
These rounded flosses are stiffened on the end and are spongy in the middle, to be effective in cleaning under bridges and around implants.
- Rinse After Eating
Rinsing with water or any antibacterial mouthwash as soon as you have eaten will also help to dislodge the loose particles in your mouth and keep it clean.
- Consider Implant-Safe Foods During Healing
When your implants are in a healing process, hard, sticky and crunchy foods should be avoided. After being properly and fully integrated, you will be able to eat most food with ease, however, you should always be mindful to avoid irritation.
- Book for Professional Cleanings.
Though home oral care is excellent, professional maintenance is important. Our dentists have special tools which are used to clean the area around All-on-4 implants so that no debris or plaque is left behind.
How to Deal with Food Stuck Under Your Implants.
In case you feel that something is stuck under your implant bridge or crown, you should not panic. Here is what to do:
- Rinse your mouth using warm water or a saline solution with low salt content.
- Floss with the use of a water flosser.
- Attempt to use special floss or interdental brushes to reach the area.
- Do not use sharp objects, toothpicks or pins as they may hurt your gums or the prosthetic.
- Contact your dentist in case of discomfort, or suspect something is deeply trapped under your implant bridge.
Constant irritation or swelling should be checked by our dental team to confirm there is no infection or adjustment needs.
Long-term Care of Your All-on-4 Implants.
All-on-4 implants have been designed to last for decades with proper care. This is because you should take care of them, as you would your natural teeth: Brush twice a day, floss once daily, and get check-ups after every six months. During appointments, your dentist will make sure that the restoration fits and cleans the areas surrounding the implants for quality maintenance.
If you find food getting trapped more frequently or feel uncomfortable, mention it at your appointment. It also happens that a minor adjustment of the bridge or even the gum can be of great help in comfort and hygiene.
Experience a Confident Smile.
You are able to eat, talk, and also smile with assuredness with dental implants, with no fear of losing dentures or having gaps. Although some food gets trapped in the process it will only take a few easy routines and a regular visit to the dentist to have your implants looking and feeling great.
Our specialization at Uptown Cosmetic Dentistry is implant restorations and all-on-4 implants in Houston that are beautiful, comfortable, and durable. Our team is available to guide you through all the stages, the placement and recovery as well as long-term maintenance.
Call us to make your appointment or book online to begin your experience of long-lasting dental confidence.
