If you’re missing teeth, there are a range of options to replace them. Though dentures and bridges are great ways to fill in your smile, dental implants are the only permanent solution to missing teeth. They also offer a range of benefits, such as added stability, easy cleaning, and preventing your jawbone from eroding by providing it with the stimulation it needs. As beneficial as dental implants are, it’s important to avoid bad habits that can damage them. Here are five things that you shouldn’t do with your dental implants to make them last as long as possible.
Habit #1: Bad Oral Hygiene
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that 47.2% of adults aged 30 and older and 70.1% of adults aged 65 years and older have gum disease. Also called periodontal disease, this is an infection of the gums that is often the result of poor oral hygiene. If it gets bad enough, it can lead to gum recession, jawbone deterioration, loose teeth, and tooth or implant loss.
Habit #2: Consuming Too Much Sugar
When you eat or drink sweet things, bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar in them and release acids that attack your enamel and make your pearly whites more susceptible to cavities. If left untreated, the tooth may need to be extracted. Your remaining teeth and implants will shift to fill in the gaps, which will make them weaker and may eventually cause them to fall out.
Habit #3: Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Smokers are at a much higher risk of developing a multitude of oral health issues. Smoking cigarettes makes people at least twice as likely to develop gum disease and 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer than nonsmokers. Both conditions can cause implant failure, so make sure to speak with your dentist, doctor, or therapist if you need help quitting.
Habit #4: Biting Non-food Items
Chewing on your finger nails, munching on ice or hard candy, and opening packages and bottles with your teeth can cause your pearly whites and implants to crack or chip. If you need to keep your mouth occupied, chew on sugar-free gum (once your mouth has healed) or let ice or hard candy melt in your mouth.
Habit #5: Skipping Dental Checkups
Some people wait until an oral health issue arises to visit the dentist, but this isn’t the best way to go about things. Biannual dental appointments allow your dentist to do a thorough examination of your mouth to ensure that there aren’t any oral health issues developing that can lead to dental implant failure. During these visits, your hygienist will also clean your teeth and around your gum line to lower your chances of developing cavities or gum disease.
As you can see, there are several things that can jeopardize your dental implants. By avoiding these five bad habits, you’ll be able to make your new smile last!
About the Practice
At Times Square Family Dental, the talented team is dedicated to helping patients achieve the gorgeous grins they deserve. Led by Dr. Javier Perez, who has nearly 25 years of experience in the dental health field, their offer a range of tooth replacement options like dental implants to give you a healthy, complete smile. Visit Times Square Family Dental’s website or call their office at (903) 307-3772 for more information on dental implants or to schedule an appointment.