Dental implants are a state-of-the-art approach to tooth loss. Not only are they extremely versatile and incredibly lifelike, but they are built to last for decades. In fact, many patients enjoy their new and improved smile and bite for 20+ years! The best way to prolong their lifespan is to avoid bad habits that can cause them to “fail.” Keep reading to learn five of the most common ones.
#1. Smoking
If you’ve been looking for another reason to quit using tobacco products, then here it is: smoking with dental implants significantly increases their risk of failure. There are a few reasons for this. Mainly, nicotine reduces blood flow to your mouth, negatively impacting the healing process. Additionally, cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products lead to dry mouth, which can result in periodontal disease. These are a few of the many reasons patients with dental implants are strongly encouraged to quit smoking.
#2. Using Your Teeth as Tools
Have you ever opened a package with your teeth? Or used your chompers to rip into a bag of chips? While convenient, the pressure (and bacteria) can be damaging to your dental implants. In short, if you want your dental implants to last, find the scissors.
#3. Eating Copious Amounts of Sugar
Sugar. Your tastebuds love it, and your teeth hate it. While the dental implants themselves are cavity-resistant, the surrounding teeth and gums are certainly still vulnerable to dental problems. So, whether you love it in your morning coffee or evening dessert, do your best to indulge sparingly and give your teeth a solid cleaning afterward.
#4. Neglecting to Brush and Floss
Dental implants may be made of high-quality materials like porcelain and titanium, but that doesn’t mean they are indestructible. To keep them in pristine condition, you should brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day and floss daily. This will prevent food particles, bacteria, and debris from clinging to the surface.
#5. Skipping Your Biannual Checkups and Cleanings
Think your six-month checkups and cleanings are optional? Think again! Even if you have no natural teeth left, your routine visits are essential. That’s because these appointments give your dentist an opportunity to screen for problems like gum disease and oral cancer. Skipping these visits can allow oral health issues like these to fly under the radar, wreaking havoc on your dental implants.
Dental implants are an investment, and you want them to last for as long as possible. To ensure they do, make sure to avoid the above bad habits!
About the Practice
Over the last three decades, Dr. John and Dr. Joyce Warwick have worked side-by-side to help patients in and around Pittsburgh get the healthy, happy, beautiful smiles of their dreams. Our team at Warwick Dentistry goes the extra mile to ensure our patients with dental implants enjoy their new and improved smile now and for years to come – it’s one of the reasons patient education is so important to us! If you’re interested in learning more about habits to avoid with dental implants or want to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 412-391-1130.