You wouldn’t buy a new microwave and then warm up some chili with a metal spoon in the bowl. Why, because the microwave is an investment, and you want it to last. Well, also because you don’t want to eat cold chili.
Your dental implants are like that microwave except they are a much more significant investment that directly impacts your oral health. It makes all the sense in the world that you would want to take good care of them so they last many years.
On that note, there are things you really want to refrain from doing to ensure their lifespan. Here are bad habits to avoid from a dentist in order to protect your dental implants in Glastonbury.
Skipping Flossing
Dental implants can’t develop cavities, but you still need to brush them to protect the rest of your mouth from plaque. It’s the same for flossing, but even more crucial. Flossing removes food and plaque from around the gum line – including parts of the dental implant you can’t reach with a toothbrush. Because gum disease is the leading cause of dental implant failure, it’s vitally important to protect your gums.
Smoking
If smoking is bad for natural teeth, it’s terrible for dental implants. It elevates your risk for gum disease, which would make it harder for your jawbone to grow and bind with the dental implant. Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to lose their dental implants.
Chewing on Non-Foods
Nervous habits like chewing on ice, pens, or your fingernails have got to go. While dental implants are made from high-quality materials, they are not designed for chewing plastic, metal, or hard tissues like fingernails. Not only could you crack or chip your restoration, you could potentially damage the bones around the dental implant to put it at risk of failure.
Eating Too Much Sugar
Sugary snacks boost your chances of developing gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in America. Eventually, it can damage the jawbone and destroy the connective tissues that hold your natural teeth and dental implant in place. There are gum disease treatments available but cutting back on your sugar intake is a much simpler way to avoid disaster.
Grinding Your Teeth or Clenching Your Jaw
When you grind your teeth or clench your jaw in your sleep, it’s called bruxism. This frequent extra pressure and abrasion can lead to a lot of issues, including damaging or loosening your dental implant. Your dentist can help you find out if you have bruxism and develop a custom mouthguard to keep your teeth safe.
As you can see, the tips to protect your dental implants also put you in better position to be healthy overall. That must be why they are called bad habits. You can schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss dental implants, and if you believe it is going to be difficult to stop any of these habits it would be important to mention it.
About the Practice
At Glastonbury Smiles, we have created a legacy of offering excellent family dentistry and we are excited for the opportunity to make you and your loved ones a part of that. We offer a wide array of services whether you want to maintain, repair, or enhance your teeth, plus we offer specialty treatments. If you are interested in dental implants, we can rebuild your smile from the roots up and take care of everything at one location. For a consultation, visit our website or call (860) 633-2031.
