Implants
Caring for your implants
Daily cleaning and regular check-ups keep your implants healthy for years.
Clean
Twice daily
Tools
Brush and floss
Check-ups
As advised
Avoid
Smoking
Overview
Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can still become infected if plaque builds up. Looking after them is much like caring for natural teeth, with a little extra attention around the implant.
Good daily cleaning at home, along with regular professional check-ups, gives your implants the best chance of lasting many years.
What to know
- Clean around implants twice a day
- Use interdental brushes or a water flosser, not floss
- Keep up your regular maintenance visits
- Watch for red or bleeding gums
- Avoid smoking to protect healing and bone
Caring for it
- Brush twice a day, including gently around each implant and along the gumline.
- Clean between and under your implant teeth daily with small interdental brushes or a water flosser (avoid floss around implants).
- Use a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid scratching the surfaces.
- If you have a fixed bridge, clean underneath it as shown by your dentist or hygienist.
- Keep your regular maintenance appointments so the implants can be checked and professionally cleaned.
- Avoid smoking, which slows healing and raises the risk of infection around implants.
- Tell your dentist if any gum looks red, bleeds, or an implant feels loose.
Call your dentist if…
- Call the clinic if an implant feels loose, or the gum around it is painful, swollen or oozing.
Common questions
Can implants get decay?
The implant itself cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can become infected if plaque is not cleaned away.
What is the best way to clean around them?
Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth daily. Small interdental brushes or a water flosser work well around implants — we avoid floss, as it can damage the gum's seal to the implant restoration.
How often should I have them checked?
Keep the maintenance schedule your dentist sets. Regular visits let problems be caught and treated early.
Does smoking affect my implants?
Yes. Smoking slows healing and increases the risk of infection and bone loss around implants.
What if my gum bleeds around an implant?
Bleeding can be an early sign of infection. Let your dentist know so it can be checked and treated promptly.
Related topics
Dental implants
A titanium post that replaces a missing tooth root and holds a new tooth.
Peri-implantitis
An infection around an implant that can damage the bone holding it.
Teeth on implants (All-on-X)
A full arch of fixed teeth supported by several implants.
Gum disease (periodontitis)
A bacterial infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth.
Dr Rick Iskandar · Reviewed June 2026