When you first get dental implants, you can easily think they’ll last your whole life. The posts are well-known for their ability to work for 15-20 years or more. However, implants only have long lifespans when you give them proper care; they’ll fail early if neglected. That’s why your Brookfield dentist is here to offer some good maintenance tips and tricks. So, read on to learn four great ways to help your dental implants last a lifetime.
Mouth-Healthy Eating
While dental implants can handle most meals, you still shouldn’t overindulge in junk food. Keeping to a mouth-healthy diet will make your restorations last longer.
The fact is that some nutrients enhance dental implants’ stability. For example, calcium-rich meals strengthen your gums and jaw to support implant posts. Foods with plenty of protein, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids also speed up recovery from implant surgery. Given these facts, the right diet could keep your implants functional for years longer.
Proper Oral Hygiene
Dental implants benefit from good oral care, even though they aren’t “real” teeth. You can trust them to last a long while if you keep your smile clean.
As odd as it may sound, dental implants need a healthy mouth to work. They’ll often loosen until they fail when positioned next to decayed teeth or infected gums. That means you should remember to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and do oral rinses often. By sticking to these practices, you’ll make severe oral issues less likely and enhance your implants’ long-term success.
No Drinking & Smoking
As tempting as drinking and smoking can be, they don’t do any favors for dental implants. You should leave those habits behind to ensure your posts last long.
You see, both alcohol and tobacco can cause early implant failure. Too much of the former delays your recovery from treatment, putting successful fusion at risk. On the other hand, a lot of the latter reduces your gums’ blood flow and stops your mouth from healing. Either result is bad news for dental implants, so you should quit (or at least limit) your drinking and smoking.
Managing Bodily Problems
Managing your pre-existing medical issues is good for dental implants. In doing so, you’ll help the posts work longer than they would otherwise.
Some physical health problems actually cause implant failure. Diabetes would be a good example, as it can make peri-implantitis more likely when severe. Similarly, osteoporosis can reduce your jaw’s bone density and lower implant stability. Even select medications are known to affect oral health, thus risking your implants’ success.
To learn other ways to help dental implants last, consult your dental provider. They’ll gladly share more tips with you!
About the Practice
Bright Smiles Dentistry is based in Brookfield, WI. Led by Drs. Muddana and Chanana, our practice takes pride in its comprehensive and far-reaching dental care. We offer top-tier preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency oral treatments. Our team even provides start-to-finish dental implant surgery under one roof! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (262)-563-9100.