If you have just undergone dental implant surgery, you are probably looking forward to enjoying the benefits of this fantastic tooth replacement option. By the end, you’ll have a fuller smile and be able to eat confidently! But did you know they also have an outstanding 99% success rate?
With such a high percentage, you may think that dental implants don’t need as much care as your other teeth. However, doing so may land you in the less than 5% of patients who experience dental implant failure. As long as you adopt these five simple habits, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you’re helping protect yourself from dental implant failure.
1.) Follow Proper Oral Hygiene
While the dental implant and restoration can’t have cavities, the harmful bacteria in your mouth can build up around the implant and infect the gum tissue. When left to its own devices, this can lead to a weakened jawbone and threaten the foundation of your dental implant.
The best way to prevent bacteria from accumulating is to follow good dental hygiene. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using antibacterial mouthwash can help keep your smile clean and protect your dental implants.
2.) Modify Your Meals
Like your natural teeth, dental implants can still be damaged by tougher foods, such as hard candies and nuts. It’s generally best to avoid them, but you can still enjoy them if you’re mindful about how hard you bite into them. Additionally, sticky sweets like caramel and taffy can become lodged between your teeth, increasing the risk of gum disease.
3.) Take Care of Teeth Grinding
You may not even know that you grind or clench your teeth during the night. This subconscious habit, also called bruxism, can put stress on your dental implants and lead to damage or loosening.
Some symptoms associated with bruxism include jaw pain or headaches, but your dentist can also look for other signs. If so, your dentist might send you home with a nightguard. This handy dental appliance protects your teeth from bruxism while you sleep.
4.) Avoid Smoking and Drinking
These unhealthy habits can compromise the healing process of your dental implant, as well as the health of your gum and bone tissue. Without a strong foundation, the restoration won’t have the lifelong durability that people love them for.
When you smoke or chew tobacco after a dental implant surgery, the recovery process can slow down. The habit may lead to a weak or unstable implant as it can’t heal properly. Even after it’s healed, the surrounding tissues can be harmed by tobacco and lead to gum disease.
5.) Visit Your Dentist
Keeping up with twice-yearly visits to your dentist is just as important when you have dental implants. These regular appointments allow your dentist to keep your teeth clean and identify any concerns as early as possible. If there are any problems, your dentist can create a plan to address them before they have the chance to become a serious issue. The earlier that problems are caught, the lower your risk is for dental implant failure!
The rate of dental implant failure is low, but without taking adequate care of your teeth, it can still happen. Keep your grin healthy for the long haul with these simple tips!
About the Practice
At United Dental Centers of Chicago, you benefit from a team of dentists with decades of combined experience. They prioritize your care and take the time to ensure that each treatment plan meets your needs. We can help you rebuild your smile with dental implants. We even place them in-house, so you work with a team you already know and trust! If you have missing teeth that you’d like to restore, schedule an appointment or call us at (773) 646-6262.