Did you ever stop to consider that your daily habits are impacting your smile? Millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss and have sought out dental implants as a solution. Consisting of a titanium post that’s fused to the jawbone and topped with a custom-made porcelain restoration, these substitutes function as stand-ins for any missing natural teeth.
A key component to ensure you benefit the most from your new hardware is ongoing maintenance and care. Unfortunately, there are a few common practices that could contribute to their eventual failure. Whether or not your tooth loss resulted from poor dental hygiene, making certain changes to your lifestyle now will ensure your implants continue to serve you in the long run. Keep reading to learn more!
Establish Positive Oral Hygiene
In order to give your prosthetics the opportunity to heal efficiently, and to avoid future problems, it is imperative to establish a positive oral care routine. This will not only help you with current upkeep, but it will also prevent future damage to your remaining natural teeth. Your daily process should include brushing, flossing, and rinsing to ensure that you remove infection-causing plaque and bacteria from all sides of your pearly whites regularly.
Quit Smoking
Smoking not only negatively impacts your overall well-being, but it also carries specific risks for your oral health. The nicotine in tobacco works to restrict the blood flow to your gums, which weakens your immune system response and makes it harder for your body to heal. This can slow down your recovery period, induce gum disease, or lead to implant failure. After all, the longer it takes to heal, the more chance there is for bacteria to fester. Reduce the risks and kick this bad habit for good!
Live A Healthy Life
If you aren’t giving your body the nutrients it needs, you are greatly hindering your healing. Therefore, a holistic approach ensures that your dental treatment will last. Some things you can do to increase the chances of a successful recovery include:
- Staying hydrated. Drinking water ensures your body can self-regulate the many important systems it needs to function on a daily basis. This also will naturally rinse food particles or germs from your mouth.
- Avoid overly sugary foods and beverages. The sugar content or acidic ingredients in many sweet foods and drinks encourages bacteria to flourish, which can lead to plaque growth and eventually infection or implant failure.
- Establish a balanced diet. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains ensures you have the nutrients you need to maintain your health during recovery (and beyond!)
Whether or not you participated in less-than-ideal practices in the past, by making these adjustments to your current lifestyle you can be confident that your newly perfected smile will last!
About the Practice
At United Dental Centers of Whiting, you can expect personalized top-of-the-line dental care. They have served patients in the area since 1989 and are proud to offer corrective treatments or cosmetic solutions. If you have suffered tooth loss and would like a consultation for dental implants, you are welcome to contact the office on the website or by calling (219) 659-4900.