Millions of Americans suffer from extensive tooth loss. If you’re a part of that group, you know firsthand how much it can affect your quality of life. Fortunately, dental implants are an excellent solution to rebuild your smile and restore your confidence. Although they’re designed to last a lifetime, that’s only the case if you take proper care of them. Read on to learn which bad habits you should kick to the curb to keep your newly rebuilt grin fully intact for as long as possible!
Smoking and Using Tobacco
Everyone knows that smoking and using tobacco products can be detrimental to your overall health. However, these poor habits are just as harmful to your dental implants. They can hinder your healing process and significantly increase your risk of infections and oral cancer. In fact, studies show that smokers are two to three times more likely to lose their dental implants than nonsmokers. With that in mind, there’s no better time than the present to break this bad habit!
Not Flossing Regularly
Just because dental implants can’t get cavities doesn’t mean you can slack off with your oral hygiene routine. It’s incredibly important that you continue to brush twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash. Flossing is especially important because it helps remove harmful substances between your teeth and around the gumline. Since periodontal disease is the leading cause of dental implant failure, it’s crucial to do everything possible to protect your gums from injury or infection.
Chewing on NonFood Items
Although dental implants are durable, they’re not designed to chew on nonfood items (i.e., fingernails, ice cubes, pens). Biting on these objects can easily damage your dental implants or natural teeth. Plus, it introduces unwanted bacteria into your mouth, potentially causing infections that could loosen your dental implant. It’s a good idea to keep some sugar-free gum in your pocket for times when you feel tempted to chew on something.
Using Your Teeth as Tools
If you’re having trouble opening a bottle or package, it may seem convenient to use your teeth. However, using your pearly whites for anything other than chewing food can take a toll on your dental implants. It can even damage your jawbone! Therefore, you should wait until you have the right tool or ask someone to lend you a helping hand.
Skipping Checkups
A healthy smile requires more than a solid at-home dental care routine. You must visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. For patients with dental implants, you may have even more frequent exams to ensure there are no problems with your prosthetics. These preventive visits allow your dentist to identify issues before they threaten your implants.
Once you have a beautiful, fully functioning, newly rebuilt smile, you’re going to want to make it last as long as possible! By breaking the bad habits listed above, you can ensure your dental implants remain in their very best shape for a lifetime.
About the Practice
At Evans Street Dental, we offer exceptional, state-of-the-art, individually tailored dental services unlike anywhere else. Our team will always go the extra mile to ensure you have the best dental experience possible. If you’d like to learn more about the care and maintenance of dental implants, we’ve got you covered. Visit our website or call (503) 472-1402 to speak directly with a member of our team!