It’s very rare for dental implants to fail, thanks to how easy they are to care for as well as the many steps your dentist will take to maximize the chances of success. Nevertheless, it is still possible for dental implant failure to occur due to infection, injury, and other causes. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to protect your newly rebuilt smile. Below are 4 helpful tips for minimizing the chances of something going wrong with your dental implants.
1. Maintain an Exceptional Home Dental Care Routine
While dental implants can’t get cavities, that doesn’t mean you can ignore them when it comes to oral hygiene. If bacteria accumulate on the soft tissues around the implant posts, it can lead to gum disease, which is a common culprit for dental implant failure.
To protect your dental implants, you need to follow all the same steps that are necessary for taking care of your natural teeth. Naturally, this includes brushing at least two times a day as well as flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.
Don’t be afraid to consider ways that you can improve your oral hygiene routine. For example, if you currently use a manual toothbrush, it may be worth switching to an electric one that is more effective for getting rid of the plaque that may have built up around your dental implants.
2. Avoid Putting Too Much Pressure On Your Implant Posts
Just like your natural teeth, dental implants are very durable, but they can still be damaged if you expose them to too much pressure. As such, it’s generally in your best interest to avoid chewing on overly hard foods such as peppermints and ice cubes. On top of that, you should break bad habits that can be hard on dental implants, such as chewing on the end of your pen.
3. Stay Away from Cigarettes
Your dental implants require healthy bone and gum tissue to hold them in place. The tobacco in cigarettes can easily lead to gum inflammation and increase your risk for gum disease, thus putting your dental implants at risk. It’s therefore recommended that you avoid cigarettes after dental implant surgery.
4. Visit Your Dentist for Routine Checkups
Sometimes it takes the eyes of a trained dental professional to recognize the warning signs of issues with your dental implants. It’s best to have two dental checkups and cleanings performed each year so that your dentist has a chance to look at your dental implants and the area around them. If they find anything that you need to be concerned about, they’ll let you know what treatment options are available and help you take whatever steps are needed to protect your rebuilt smile.
About the Practice
At Temple Choice Dental, we always put the needs and safety of our patients first. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a wide variety of dental services under a single roof, which includes dental implant placement surgery. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with our team, visit our website or call (254) 727-7144.