5 Poor Habits to Avoid with Dental Implants

Missing teeth can affect more than just your appearance – it can impact your overall quality of life as well. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with gaps in your smile forever. Dental implants allow you to enjoy a complete, fully functioning, and healthy grin once again. Even though they’re meant to last a lifetime, that’s only the case if you take proper care of them. That said, here are five poor habits you should avoid to help your newly rebuilt smile last as long as possible.

Smoking

Do you smoke or regularly use tobacco? Not only are these poor habits detrimental to your overall health, but they can put your dental implants at risk as well. They can negatively affect the healing process by interfering with the regrowth of bone. Plus, it puts you at a higher risk of gum disease and oral cancer. Studies show that smokers are two to three times more likely to experience dental implant failure. That said, there’s no better time than the present to break this bad habit.  

Not Flossing

Even though dental implants can’t get cavities, you’ll still need to take proper care of them. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash will keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum. Flossing is especially important because it helps remove harmful substances between your teeth and around the gum line, lowering your risk of infection. Gum disease is the leading cause of dental implant failure, which is why it’s important to do everything you can to prevent it.

Chewing on Non-Foods

Dental implants are not designed to withstand the chewing of any non-foods, such as fingernails, ice cubes, and pens. Using your artificial teeth for anything other than eating can easily result in damage. Plus, it introduces unwanted bacteria into your mouth, potentially causing infections that could loosen your dental implant. It’s a good idea to keep some sugar-free gum in your pocket in case you feel tempted to chew on something.

Using Teeth as Tools

Whenever you can’t crack open a bottle or tear open a package, you may be tempted to use your teeth. However, using your dental implants as tools can take a toll on them. It can even damage your jawbone! That’s why it’s always best to wait until you have the right tool or ask someone to lend you a helping hand.

Skipping Dental Checkups

Everyone should be visiting their dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. These routine appointments are crucial for maintaining a healthy smile. Patients with dental implants might even have more frequent exams to ensure there are no problems with the prosthetics. With routine checkups, your dentist can spot and treat issues before they threaten your implants.

If you want to protect your investment, kick these bad habits to the curb. Doing so will help your new smile stay in tip-top shape for a lifetime!

About the Practice

At OraBell Dental Implant Centers, we strive to provide exceptional and personalized dental care to every patient that walks through our doors. If you want to replace the gaps in your smile with state-of-the-art dental implants, we can complete the entire process from start to finish right here in our office. You can make an appointment via our website or call (818) 528-8846.