Dental implants require as much care as natural teeth. Implants that aren't properly cared for can become scratched or damaged, and scratched dental implants can harbor bacteria. People who have dental implants must buy special cleaning tools and use specific techniques to care for their dental implants. This step-by-step tutorial will help people who have single-tooth implants care for their implant.

Step-By-Step Brushing Technique

Use a dental implant brush for this procedure. If you don't have a special brush for cleaning implants, use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Toothbrushes with hard bristles can scratch the implant.

1. Place the dental implant brush against the base of the tooth, on the outside of the tooth, where it meets the gumline.
2. Wiggle the toothbrush gently against the tooth, so that the bristles of the brush are pushed against the edge of the implant and the gums.
3. Sweep the bristles of the brush upward to the top of the tooth.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 several times.
5. Switch the toothbrush to the base of the tooth on the inside, near the gum line. Repeat steps 1 through 3 several times.

Step-By-Step Flossing Technique

Use implant floss, or unwaxed floss for this task.

1. Pull out a length of dental floss from the box. The amount of floss you pull must be long enough that you can wrap the floss around two fingers several times, and leave a few inches of space in between. For many people, this will be at least a foot of floss, but it may be more.
2. Wrap the floss around the middle or pointer finger of each hand several times. Leave a few inches of unwrapped floss in between the fingers.
3. Pull the floss between the fingers tight, then insert the floss into the space between implant and the tooth on the right side of the implant.
4. Slide the floss down the length of the implant, rubbing the floss back and forth like a saw.
5. Repeat step 4 several times.
6. Pull the floss out of the mouth and readjust it on the fingers, so that a fresh length of floss is positioned between the two fingers.
7. Pull the floss between the fingers tight, then insert the floss into the space between the implant and the tooth on the left side of the implant.
8. Repeat step 4 several times.

This step-by-step tutorial will help you care for your dental implant. To ensure that you're doing this task properly, demonstrate your techniques to a dentist like Marc E. Segal, D.D.S.. He or she may be able to give you pointers and will be able to tell you if you're doing it correctly.