Having questions before undergoing any kind of major medical procedure, like getting dental implants, is perfectly fine. So if you're still on the fence about going forward with dental implants, here are some things you should know about how implants impact your oral health.

Do Implants Get Cavities?

Some people have wondered if dental implants are susceptible to cavities the way that real teeth are. The answer is no. Dental implants are made out of completely non-living materials like porcelain and titanium that aren't susceptible to the kind of damage that dental bacteria can do to real, living teeth. As a result, you'll never need to worry about your dental implant or implants getting cavities.

Gum Disease

While cavities are out of the question, that doesn't mean that gum disease isn't. Your gums are still your own and are a necessary part of supporting your dental implants. If you get gum disease, it could put your implants at risk, so you should do everything that you can to avoid this from happening. If you already have one or more implants and think you're experiencing signs of gum disease, get to a dentist right away.

What to Do

While you could theoretically never brush your implants and they wouldn't be damaged from it, your gums can't say the same. As a result, you still need to use good oral hygiene habits to take care of your implants, any remaining teeth, and gums.

Thankfully, doing this is easy. All you need to do is brush and floss everyday. Brushing helps to clear away food debris that the bacteria responsible for gum disease thrive off of, so yes, it's a necessity even if you don't have any natural teeth left. Besides, while plaque can't harm your implants it can still feel gross if it accumulates on your artificial crowns, so you don't want it sticking around.

Flossing is a must to keep your gums healthy. Even if you never flossed in the past, now is the time to change that if you want your investment to last for as long as possible.

Mouthwash can also be used to keep your implants and gums healthy, but it isn't required.

Last, make sure that you maintain a regular schedule of appointments with your dentist. You're still going to need regular dental cleanings and now it's very important for you to not miss them, so if you already have implants, set up a cleaning appointment with a dental provider like Apollo Dental Center ASAP.