Why does cleaning around implants matter so much?
Crowns, bridges and dentures on implants collect plaque just as natural teeth do. According to the Oral Health Foundation, if plaque builds up around an implant, it can cause an inflammatory condition called peri-implantitis. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) describes the early stage, in which the inflammation is limited to the gum around the implant (peri-implant mucositis), as reversible when it is caught early. Once the inflammation reaches the bone, peri-implantitis usually requires surgical treatment.
A 2024 review by Perussolo and Donos regards the plaque removal patients carry out at home as one of the key factors in preventing disease around implants. The 2023 clinical guideline of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) also recommends that, once an implant is in use, the patient joins a programme of regular supportive care. This article focuses on how daily cleaning differs between types of implant restoration.
Which cleaning aids are used?
| Cleaning aid | Where it helps | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Soft-bristled toothbrush (manual or electric) | Visible surfaces of crowns and dentures, the gum line | The Cochrane review found no significant difference between powered and manual toothbrushes |
| Fluoride toothpaste with low abrasiveness | Natural teeth, implants and fixed restorations in the mouth | The Oral Health Foundation recommends fluoride toothpaste; Cleveland Clinic recommends a non-abrasive toothpaste for fixed implant dentures |
| Interdental brushes | Around the implant, between crowns and under bridges | The Oral Health Foundation recommends using them every day; in a study described by Perussolo and Donos, tapered brushes left less plaque than straight ones |
| Floss threader | Under bridges and fixed full-arch restorations | Recommended by Cleveland Clinic for cleaning under fixed implant dentures |
| Water flosser | Areas the brush cannot reach easily | According to Perussolo and Donos, it can be useful where access is limited; some people find it difficult to use |
The Oral Health Foundation says your dental team will show you how to clean around your implant, and this is also when the right size of interdental brush is chosen. Perussolo and Donos advise care with floss if the threads of an implant have become exposed, as fibres can catch on the surface. Use a water flosser in addition to brushing, not instead of it.
How do you clean a single implant crown or an implant bridge?
According to the Oral Health Foundation, cleaning implants is similar to cleaning natural teeth:
- Brush for two minutes at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, once last thing at night.
- Clean around the implant every day with interdental brushes.
- With an implant bridge, follow the advice Leeds Teaching Hospitals give for bridges and pass floss along the gum under the false tooth; a floss threader makes it easier to get the floss under the bridge.
An implant crown replaces a single tooth, and the natural teeth next to it also need daily cleaning between them.
How do you clean under a fixed full-arch bridge?
You do not take out a fixed full-arch bridge on four or six implants yourself. According to Cleveland Clinic, these restorations are brushed like natural teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste, and the underside facing the gum is cleaned with floss threaders, interdental brushes and other special cleaning tools.
The hardest areas to clean are under the bridge and where the implants come through the gum. The EFP guideline recommends that the restoration is designed so that the patient’s cleaning aids can reach these areas, with a smooth, polished underside. Perussolo and Donos note that a water flosser may be particularly useful in such hard-to-reach areas. Once your bridge is fitted, you can ask your dentist to show you in your own mouth which aids to use and in what order. Our page on full-arch implants describes how this treatment is planned.
How do you clean a removable implant denture?
With these dentures, there are two separate jobs: cleaning the denture itself and cleaning the implants in your mouth.
- The denture: Cleveland Clinic recommends taking the denture out every day, cleaning it at least twice a day and soaking it overnight in a denture-cleaning solution. According to the NHS, dentures are brushed morning and night with soft soap or washing-up liquid and rinsed with cold water after meals. Toothpaste is not used, as it can damage the denture.
- At night: The NHS advises taking dentures out at night unless your dentist advises otherwise, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals note that an implant denture can be removed at night and to clean the implants.
- Avoiding damage: The NHS recommends cleaning dentures over a sink of water or a soft surface such as a towel, because they can break if dropped. According to Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ denture leaflet, soaking a denture in hot water can distort its shape and change its colour.
- The implants and attachments in your mouth: The attachments on the implants are brushed every day as well. The NHS recommends brushing your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth morning and night with fluoride toothpaste. Perussolo and Donos note that a water flosser can also be useful around the implants that hold these dentures.
How often should you have check-ups, and what happens at them?
The check-up interval is not the same for everyone. A systematic review described by Perussolo and Donos suggested check-ups at least every 5–6 months to reduce biological problems around implants. According to the same review, the interval is tailored to the individual, taking into account risks such as a history of gum disease and smoking.
According to the EFP, supportive care includes professional removal of plaque above and below the gum line, a review of your home cleaning with fresh instructions, and early detection of problems. Perussolo and Donos describe how the gum around each implant is measured at check-ups, the fit and shape of the restoration are examined, and X-rays are taken when needed. Because smoking and uncontrolled diabetes are risks for disease around implants, these are discussed at check-ups too.
Who can look after your implant teeth once you are home?
If you had your implants and new teeth fitted in Türkiye, much of the long-term care happens at home. Your local dentist can carry out routine check-ups, professional cleaning and minor adjustments. Copies of your X-rays, a short treatment summary and the details of your implant all help them. Implant components differ between brands, so knowing which implant system was used makes future work much easier; the make and model of your implant are written in your treatment plan, and the batch number is on your implant card.
Before you leave, ask to be shown your cleaning aids in your own mouth and note the size of interdental brush that suits you. Once you are home, you can send photos and questions on WhatsApp, and if your dentist has questions about the treatment, they can contact us there too. Our page on aftercare and follow-up explains what to do if a problem occurs.
When should you see a dentist without waiting for a check-up?
According to the AAP, the Oral Health Foundation, Cleveland Clinic and Leeds Teaching Hospitals, see a dentist if you notice:
- red, tender or swollen gums around an implant, or bleeding when you brush
- pus, a fever or other signs of infection around an implant
- a restoration or an implant that feels loose
- chipped porcelain on a crown or bridge, or a restoration that has come off
- a removable denture that no longer holds as well as before, slips, clicks or causes pain
If you clench or grind your teeth, tell your dentist about this as well.
How is implant aftercare planned at Rönesans?
Implants and prosthetic dentistry are among our areas of treatment. Restorations are made with CAD/CAM at the dental laboratory we work with, from impressions taken with an intraoral scanner or, where needed, with conventional methods. After implant treatment, you receive an implant card with the batch details of your implant. Keep it safe: it is useful whenever work on your implant is needed in future, including by a dentist at home.
The cleaning aids and check-up interval that suit you are decided at the examination, based on the type of restoration and the condition of your mouth. Our practice has a device that removes plaque with a spray of air, water and fine powder; whether it is used for you is decided by the dentist after the examination. You know from the start which dentist will follow your treatment, and follow-up after treatment runs through a defined process. We give a conditional warranty for problems not caused by the patient and explain its scope and exclusions at the examination before treatment starts; if a problem covered by the warranty means you need to come back to the clinic, we cover your travel costs.
If you notice a problem with your implant teeth, send us photos on WhatsApp or write to us through our contact form; during opening hours, we answer messages in English and German within 15 minutes. You can read about the treatment itself on our page on dental implants in Türkiye.