Lots of patients LOVE their dental implants. This restoration can be truly life changing, especially if you’ve had gaps in your smile for quite some time. You’re beginning to see what all the hype is about, and now that you have dental implants, you want them to last for as long as possible!
That makes perfect sense, and if you’re looking for tips that will help them go the distance, you’ve stumbled across the right blog post. Keep reading for four lifestyle changes you can make to promote your dental implants’ longevity.
1. Quit Smoking (and Using Tobacco)
This might be the hardest tip, but also the most important. Tobacco products wreak havoc on your oral cavity – besides drastically increasing your risk of oral cancers, the chemicals also slow down your body’s natural healing process and are strongly linked to gum disease. This creates an un-ideal scenario where it’s easier for you to develop oral illness and more difficult to recover.
Lean on your support systems for help and quit smoking so your dental implants and natural teeth won’t be at high risk of falling out.
2. Schedule Regular Appointments with Your Dentist
Even if you’ve had a full mouth restoration with implant dentures, it’s in your best interest to visit your dentist on a regular basis! By scheduling a checkup and cleaning every six months, you give them the opportunity to check on your implants, as well as your overall oral health. Plus, they’ll be able to remove harmful plaque and tartar from your smile, resulting in whiter teeth and lower risk of developing oral conditions.
3. Brush and Floss Every Day
Having your teeth cleaned every six months is great – but isn’t going to cut it if that’s the only time they get brushed and flossed! Brush your pearly whites twice daily and floss once per day to remove cavity- and gum disease-causing bacteria from your mouth. Your dental implants will thank you for it.
4. Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Though dental implants are a good fit for most people, certain general health conditions can jeopardize their longevity if not properly managed. Blood sugar fluctuations from diabetes, for example, can increase inflammation, making it easier to contract gum disease and harder to get rid of it. Look after your health by following your primary care physician’s instructions, and you’ll do your dental implants (and yourself!) a favor.
Lifestyle changes like these aren’t always easy to implement into your daily routine. That’s okay – it takes time to build and break habits. If you’re determined to get the most out of your dental implants, be kind and patient with yourself. Your dentist, friends, and family are all rooting for you and want you to be able to enjoy your new smile!
About the Author
As a highly experienced dentist, Dr. Christopher S. Cannady has an impressive resume. He’s a proud member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and has completed many advanced training courses in treatments like full mouth rehabilitation, dental implants, and sedation dentistry. If you’re interested in receiving dental implants near Clearwater, Dr. Cannady would be happy to meet you and give you pointers on taking care of them! To contact his office for a consultation, call 727-441-3523.