I have always been one of those people who loves to get out into the world and talk with other people, but a few years ago, I realized that I had to do something about my smile. My teeth were yellow and unattractive, and it was really discouraging to see how much different my smile was. I knew that I needed to get my teeth fixed, so I started working with a professional dentist to make things right. Within a few short months, my smile was completely transformed, and I knew that I owed it all to my dental professional. Check out this blog for more information about working with a dentist.
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Working With A Great Dentist
Just Got Dental Implants? Avoid These 4 Bad Habits
Harper Hughes
Dental implants offer a great way to restore your natural smile and regain your confidence. Unlike dentures, dental implants mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Dental implants are also impervious to cavities and many other dental issues that impact natural teeth.
Dental implants can last for a lifetime, but only if they're properly cared for. That means avoiding many of the bad habits that can also affect natural teeth.
Tobacco Use
Smoking and chewing tobacco can do more than just stain your brand-new dental implants. Active tobacco usage can also interfere with the healing process, making it harder for your implants to integrate with underlying gum and bone. Keeping up your old smoking habits also puts you at greater risk of developing gum disease.
Chewing Ice
Chewing ice seems like a harmless habit, and it even may seem like a refreshing way to cool off. However, chewing ice puts your dental implants in danger of being damaged. Biting down on hard ice can create micro-fractures throughout the implant, making it more susceptible to chipping and cracking later on. The damage can also extend to the bones surrounding your dental implant, increasing the likelihood of implant failure. Sharp edges can also lead to small cuts and punctures in your gums, opening the door to possible infection.
Instead of chewing on ice, try chewing on something softer like sugar-free gum. Keep in mind that ice chewing could also indicate an underlying issue, including pica or calcium and magnesium deficiency.
Using Teeth as Tools
Your teeth aren't a Swiss Army Knife, but you might be tempted to use them like one whenever there's a stubborn bottle or bag that needs opening. Using your dental implants like pliers, scissors or bottle openers can subject them to twisting and pulling forces they weren't designed to deal with. Constant exposure to these forces can cause your implants to weaken and eventually fail over time.
The next time you have a bag of chips that need opening or a piece of string that needs cutting, resist the urge to use your teeth as a quick and convenient tool.
Skipping Dental Checkups
Regularly scheduled checkups are the key to excellent dental health. These checkups give your dentist an opportunity to examine your implants for any signs of irregularities that could affect them long-term. Your dentist can also perform professional deep cleanings that remove tartar and other deposits that hide harmful bacteria and cause gum disease.
Skipping your dental appointments can do your dental implants and overall oral health more harm than good. If you want to keep your dental implants in great shape, having them checked out by your dentist who offers dental implant services is an absolute must.
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