Dental implants are considered the ideal form of tooth replacement because they are incredibly lifelike, function just like real teeth, and can last a lifetime with proper care. While dental implants are made from high-quality and durable materials like ceramics, porcelain, and titanium, improper use can chip away at the artificial teeth or loosen the post placed in the jawbone. Here are a few bad habits to kick if you want your dental implants to last as long as possible.
Only Use Your Teeth and Implants for Smiling and Chewing
Teeth and implants are both incredibly strong, but abusing them can rapidly wear them down. It’s crucial that you only use your teeth to chew and smile, as using them to open packages or bottles or to hold on to objects can cause them to chip and break. Chewing ice, paperclips, or pencils are all great ways to crack or break teeth whether they are real or artificial. The stress of misusing your teeth can also cause damage to the bond between the implant and the jawbone, leading to the failure of the whole restoration. Avoid abusing your teeth to keep your dental implants in good shape.
Kick the Tobacco Habit
While dental implants boast a success rate of over 95%, tobacco use is frequently to blame for them failing the other 5% of the time. Whether it is smoked or chewed, the chemicals in tobacco cause the gums to harden as a defensive mechanism, and frequently hardening in this way can exhaust them and cause them to atrophy over time. To make matters worse, nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, making it harder to fight infections like gum disease. Drop the cigarette or dip habit to keep your dental implants healthy.
Don’t Skip Oral Hygiene
Having artificial teeth does not absolve you from practicing excellent oral hygiene. Dental implants need healthy gums to remain healthy and strong, and the gums will become infected and compromised without proper hygiene. Brush and floss your dental implants just like you would with real teeth and avoid overindulging in sugar that can feed harmful oral bacteria.
Dental implants are intended to be a long-term investment. By taking excellent care of them, you can enjoy the benefits of a fully restored smile for life!
About the Author
Dr. Ted Dunson earned his dental doctorate at Baylor College of Dentistry where he won the Award for Cosmetic Excellence. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. His office in Denton, TX offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implant services. For more information on caring for your dental implants, contact his office online or dial (940) 566-4942.