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Do Dental Implants Fare Better with a Sonic Toothbrush?

When you have dental implants, your oral health care is more important than ever. If you don’t keep your new teeth clean enough, problems could develop and you could end up with implant failure.

Sonic Toothbrush

For that reason, many oral surgeons and dental health experts recommend using sonic toothbrushes, which may be preferable to the alternatives.

How Sonic Toothbrushes Work

Electric toothbrushes have been around for decades. They provide anywhere from 2,500 to 7,000 strokes per minute, eliminating the need to brush manually.

Plus, sonic toothbrushes kick the power up several notches — they vibrate at around 30,000 strokes per minute.

Because of their speed, sonic models create a substantial amount of energy. This powers saliva and toothpaste into areas where traditional or electric toothbrushes can’t reach, including between the teeth and below the gumline.

Why Sonic Toothbrushes Are Effective for Dental Implants

Some people think that the vibrations sonic toothbrushes cause can lead to bone loss and implant failure, but in fact the opposite is true.

The titanium posts used to anchor dental implants act as replacement roots for artificial teeth. Because they are placed into the jawbone, they stimulate new bone growth and help prevent bone loss. The jawbone needs the stimulation of chewing to maintain its density, and the titanium implant roots keep that bone stimulated.

The vibrations of sonic toothbrushes are similar to those caused by chewing, so they aren’t likely to cause any harm to your implants. In fact, they may even be beneficial.

Sonic toothbrushes also are effective at keeping your dental implants clean, because they can reach all of the nooks and crannies around the implanted teeth. However, oral surgeons caution that brushing with a sonic model is not a substitute for flossing!

You must also continue to use dental floss or a water flosser to remove plaque from between teeth and other hard-to-reach areas. Some oral surgeons also recommend using an interdental brush that slides between the teeth.

Caring for Your Dental Implants

Maintaining solid oral health habits is important. However, you can take additional steps to help your dental implants last forever.

Be sure to schedule regular checkups with your oral surgeon. A periodic office visit is typically required after implant surgery, as the gums and implants need to be examined to be sure all is well.

And although using sonic toothbrushes can do much to keep your mouth healthy, they do not equal a professional cleaning. Professional cleanings can remove all of the tartar, plaque and bacteria that has built up around your implants and on your natural teeth, reducing your risk for decay and gum disease.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah specializes in providing comprehensive oral care and advanced treatment, and we have convenient office locations throughout northern Utah. Contact us today to learn more about caring for your dental implants.

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