Arizona Tribune - How to Protect Dental Implants from Damage & Wear

1. Practice good oral hygiene habits

Since dental implants function similarly to your natural teeth, you can care for them in the same way. Practice healthy habits like brushing twice daily, flossing once, and using an antibacterial mouthwash. Good oral hygiene is especially important for patients who have an alternative type of implant, like zygomatic implants, due to significant bone loss. Caring for oral health may reduce the likelihood of infection, implant failure, or other complications following dental implant surgery.

2. Visit your dentist regularly

Even though dental implants offer a durable tooth replacement option, you'll still want to keep regular check-up appointments with your dentist at least twice a year. During these appointments, your dentist can look for signs of any issues with the implants, like gum inflammation or infection. If they find anything, your dental team may recommend additional procedures to promote the longevity of implants.

3. Avoid certain hard or sticky foods

Be mindful of what you eat, especially when it comes to hard or sticky foods. Crunching on ice, biting into hard candies, or chewing sticky treats like caramel can put extra stress on your dental implants. Over time, this pressure can cause damage or even loosen your restoration. Instead, opt for softer, implant-friendly foods that won't put your smile at risk. And if you ever feel like something isn't quite right after eating, check in with your dentist to make sure everything stays secure.

4. Quit smoking

Tobacco use has been shown to increase the chances of implant failure and generally cause problems with your body's ability to heal and accept the implant. One of the best things you can do (for not only the health of your implants, but also your overall health) in the long term is to avoid using tobacco in any form.

5. Protect your teeth while playing sports

Certain sports, whether they're full contact or they use a small, fast-moving object like a hockey puck, can cause serious dental damage. If you play a sport, it may be smart to wear a removable mouthguard that covers your teeth and protects them. Doing so can decrease the likelihood of serious damage after a sports-related facial injury.

6. Ask your dentist about nighttime tooth protection

If you have a history of grinding your teeth at night, a condition known as bruxism, your dentist may have you wear a nightguard or retainer to protect your dental implants. Constant grinding can wear down implants and put unnecessary pressure on them, potentially causing wear and tear on implants. The right nightguard can lessen the risk of grinding and help make sure the surfaces of the teeth aren't making contact throughout the night.

7. Avoid using your teeth as tools

It may be tempting to use your teeth to open packages or bottles, trim your nails, or remove tags, but doing so could damage your teeth, gums, and jaw. Using your teeth as tools could cause unnecessary wear and tear on dental implants and potentially create the need for further dental work. Instead, use scissors or another appropriate tool to complete the task and give your dental implants a break.

8. Immediately seek treatment for any issues

Damage to dental implants can get worse if a minor problem, like discomfort or irritation, is left untreated. Instead, contact your dental team right away if anything feels off in the area around your dental implants. Your dental team can quickly assess the root cause of the issue and thanks to advances like one-day dental implants may be able to fit you for a replacement the same day.

The bottom line

While dental implants are designed to last a lifetime, it's important that you properly care for and maintain the implants to get the most from them. While some wear and tear is to be expected, as it happens to natural teeth, acute damage or excessive wear should be reported to your dentist immediately.

Contact Information:

Name: Sonakshi Murze
Email: [email protected]
Job Title: Manager

SOURCE: iQuanti

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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