If you ultimately chose to rebuild your smile with dental implants, a determining factor may have been their longevity. After all, while traditional tooth-replacement options can last for 5-10 years, dental implants can last for 30+! The key is proper maintenance. While incorporating healthy habits into your routine is a great place to start, it’s equally as important to break bad ones. Here are a few examples.
Bad Habit #1: Smoking
Have you heard of peri-implantitis or failed osseointegration? They are the two leading causes of dental implant failure. Since tobacco use can play a role in both, patients are advised not to smoke leading up to the procedure and afterward. Naturally, this is easier said than done, so don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for their tips and recommendations, like using over-the-counter nicotine patches.
Bad Habit #2: Not Brushing Consistently
Remember, even though your dental implants cannot decay, your gums can still develop an infection. So, it’s important that you continue to make your at-home dental care regimen a priority. A great place to start is by brushing for two full minutes each morning and evening. Then, focus on flossing and rinsing with mouthwash consistently as well.
Bad Habit #3: Eating Crunchy Foods
Just like your natural teeth, your dental implants can break with enough pressure. For this reason, patients are encouraged not to eat hard pretzels, peanut brittle, and other crunchy foods. It’s also a good idea to avoid foods that have a sticky consistency as well, like taffy, since chewing on them can cause your restoration to come out of position.
Bad Habit #4: Not Wearing a Mouthguard
There’s a common misconception that you only need to wear a mouthguard if you participate in a contact sport, like football. However, you can accidentally chip, crack, or knock out a tooth if you fall as well, which is why patients are encouraged to wear one while jogging, riding their bikes, and rollerblading. You should also ask your dentist to make you one if you grind/clench your teeth at night.
Bad Habit #5: Skipping Your Biannual Dental Visits
Remember, even if you don’t have any of your natural teeth left, you need to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning twice a year. That way, your dentist can examine the condition of your dental implants, take a look at your gums, and conduct an oral cancer screening.
About the Practice
Since graduating cum laude from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jane C. Puskas has become a highly awarded and recognized dentist. Not only was she the first female president and program chairwoman of the Hinman Dental Society, but she has also received awards from The American Society of Dentists for Children. To this day, she maintains active memberships with several professional organizations, including the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the American College of Dentists. If you’d like to schedule a consultation with her, visit our website or call (404) 261-7488.