As you can imagine, significant tooth loss can greatly impact daily life and self-confidence. If you’re an individual with missing teeth, you are likely to understand the challenges firsthand. Fortunately, dental implants offer a long-term solution to restore both function and appearance – but their longevity ultimately depends on proper care. To maintain your newly restored smile, it’s crucial to eliminate harmful habits that could jeopardize your implants.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Smoking and tobacco use are harmful to overall health, but they’re especially detrimental to dental implants. These habits interfere with the healing process, increase the risk of infection, and can even lead to oral cancer. Studies indicate that smokers are two to three times more likely to experience implant failure compared to nonsmokers. If you’re looking for a reason to quit, protecting your new smile is a compelling one!
Neglecting Flossing
While dental implants are resistant to cavities, that doesn’t mean you can slack on oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using an ADA-approved mouthwash are essential steps to maintaining a healthy mouth. Flossing is particularly important as it removes plaque and debris from between teeth and along the gumline. Since gum disease is the leading cause of implant failure, keeping your gums healthy is vital.
Chewing on Non-Food Items
Despite their durability, dental implants aren’t designed to withstand chewing on non-food objects like fingernails, ice cubes, or pens. These habits can damage both your implants and natural teeth, increasing the risk of infection or implant loosening. If you tend to chew when nervous or bored, try keeping sugar-free gum on hand as a safer alternative.
Using Teeth as Tools
When struggling to open a package or bottle, it may be tempting to use your teeth. However, this can cause serious damage to your implants, natural teeth, and even your jawbone. To protect your investment, always use proper tools instead of your teeth for tasks like tearing packaging or loosening bottle caps.
Skipping Dental Checkups
A healthy smile requires more than just good at-home care. Regular dental visits (at least every six months) are essential for keeping your implants and overall oral health in top condition. Patients with dental implants may need even more frequent checkups to monitor their prosthetics and catch potential issues early. These visits allow your dentist to detect and address problems before they become serious threats to your implants.
About the Practice
Revival Dentistry is dedicated to restoring smiles with personalized and compassionate care. We offer comprehensive services, including dental implants, so you can enjoy a complete and functional grin. To learn more about caring for your new smile, visit our website or call (708)-991-5988.