If you’ve recently received dental implants, you’re probably feeling pretty thrilled to have upgraded to what’s considered the gold standard of tooth replacement! These nifty little posts are capable of fully restoring lost teeth in terms of look, feel, and functionality, and better yet, they can potentially last for several decades under optimal circumstances. However, it’s not always easy to foster a healthy environment for your new implants to thrive. Here are some lifestyle changes you might consider making so that you can set your new smile up for lasting beauty and health.
1. Focus on Keeping Things Clean
Even though dental implants replace lost teeth, that doesn’t excuse you from taking care of your mouth—consistent oral hygiene will keep gum disease at bay, which is a considerable threat to your dental implants. Much like how gum disease can prevent you from receiving dental implants, it can also be the reason for your implants failing once they’ve been placed! Be sure that you’re brushing and flossing on a daily basis and regularly inspecting your smile.
2. Quit Smoking & Other Bad Oral Habits
Smoking is one of the worst habits you can partake in, period. Not only does it increase your risk of gum disease, oral cancer, and other nasty issues, but it also decreases your body’s overall healing factor, which will impede your implant sites’ healing. Even after the implants have healed, smoking can still be quite problematic, meaning that opting for dental implants is an excellent excuse to kick the habit for good! It’s also worth noting that other poor oral habits including excessive alcohol usage or treating your teeth as tools can also prove detrimental to dental implants.
3. Strive to Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
In addition to kicking bad oral habits, it’s wise to try and lead a healthy lifestyle in terms of what you eat and how you take care of your body! You can do this by sticking to a hearty diet of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and more. You should also drink plenty of water in favor of sugary or acidic beverages. It also never hurts to maintain an optimal body weight by getting plenty of regular exercise. Simply put, a healthy lifestyle reduces your controllable risk factors associated with health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, both of which can actually influence the integrity of your dental implants!
Your dental implants are going to be with you for the foreseeable future, so you should make sure you’re making the necessary changes in your life to ensure their lasting integrity.
About the Practice
The team at Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry has served patients and families in the Cincinnati, OH area for several years. They offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry options like dental implants so that you can move forward with a healthy, complete, and confidence-inspiring smile! If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a consultation to see if dental implants are right for you, feel free to contact the practice through their website or over the phone for further assistance: (513) 648-9900.