Dental implants are a fantastic way to replace missing teeth because they look and work just like the real thing. While implants boast a whopping 95% success rate, they can be rejected by the body under certain circumstances. Your daily habits can make the difference between successfully restoring your smile and losing an implant. Here are three lifestyle changes that can make a big difference in the health of your dental implants.
Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Dental implants require a healthy foundation to be successful, and gum disease and other oral ailments can make it more difficult for them to be integrated into the body. Before receiving dental implants, you should make sure that you are practicing proper oral hygiene to keep your mouth clean and free of infections. This includes a daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash. This will keep your oral germ populations low and the tissues in your mouth stimulated, which helps them to heal and fight infections efficiently.
Kick the Tobacco Habit
Smoking is a notorious culprit behind the failure of dental implants. Nicotine causes the body’s blood vessels to constrict, which makes it harder for the gums to heal and fight infection. To make matters worse, the gums harden in response to tobacco smoke, and constantly maintaining this hardened state can cause them to recede and atrophy. All of this makes it more difficult for a dental implant to fuse to the jawbone and function like a real tooth. It’s best to quit smoking before undergoing dental implant surgery.
Exercise and Eat Right
Regular exercise and a good diet promote a healthy immune system, which is necessary for dental implants to heal properly. With a healthy cardiovascular system, your gums and jaw will heal more quickly and thoroughly. Good lifestyle habits also prevent chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which can both complicate the gum’s healing process. While recovering from tooth extraction, eat a diet with adequate amounts of calcium, fluoride, and other nutrients that keep bones and connective tissues strong while drinking plenty of water.
With proper care, your dental implants can last for decades. By making a few lifestyle changes, you can ensure that your restorations will keep your smile looking great for the long haul.
About the Practice
Lake Nona Dental Group provides top-quality dental care to the communities of Orlando and St. Cloud, FL. Led by a team of six dentists, the staff practices the latest in dental methods and techniques alongside old-fashioned customer service. The two locations offer general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry in addition to dental implant treatments. For more information on caring for dental implants, contact the office online.
