If you have dental implants, your new replacement “teeth” could potentially last a lifetime. The most successful of these posts tend to work for 30 years or even longer. Still, you’ll only enjoy such grand results if you look after your restorations well. Let your Temple dentist offer up some good implant habits to ensure that happens. So, here are four lifestyle changes that help dental implants last for many years.
A Good Oral Hygiene Routine
They may not be “real” teeth, but dental implants still benefit from good oral hygiene. They’ll last quite a while if you remember to keep your mouth clean.
The issue is that dental implants need a healthy mouth to work. When placed next to tooth decay and gum disease sites, they often loosen until they fail. If you’d like to avoid that outcome, try to brush your teeth twice daily and floss between them once daily. These habits will reduce your risk of severe oral issues, making long-term implant success more likely.
Mouth-Healthy Dieting
As tasty as sweets and junk food are, they won’t do your dental implants any favors. Consider switching to a mouth-healthy diet so your restorations last longer.
You see, nutrients affect whether your smile can handle dental implants. That means eating a balanced diet – one filled with many vitamins and minerals – should help the posts last. For example, calcium-rich meals strengthen your gums and jaw to support implant posts. Foods with protein, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids will also speed up recovery from implant surgery.
Drinking & Smoking Less
Giving up drinking and smoking can be tricky, but doing so is great for dental implants. Leaving the habits behind makes the posts more likely to last long.
Drinking and smoking can (and often do) lead to implant failure. A high alcohol intake delays your mouth’s recovery from surgery, putting successful fusion at risk. Meanwhile, smoking tobacco products reduces blood flow to the gums – something that stops your mouth from healing. Since either result is bad, it’s best to give up drinking and smoking altogether.
Managing Medical Issues
If you really want your dental implants to last, manage (or fix) your pre-existing medical issues. Keeping them in check will help your posts work properly.
Indeed, some physical health problems can cause implant failure. Out-of-control diabetes will often trigger high blood sugar, making peri-implantitis more likely. Osteoporosis can also reduce your jaw’s bone density and lower implant stability. If you’re unlucky, even your medications could affect your oral health and implant success.
The items above are only a few lifestyle changes that help dental implants last. To learn about others, please talk to your local dental provider.
About the Practice
Market Heights Family Dental is based in Temple, TX. Led by Drs. Tochterman and Pundt, our practice holds to a philosophy of “Lifetime Care.” This approach leads us to offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your smile and its needs. As a result, patients of all ages can trust us to transform their teeth and gums! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (254)-699-3565.