Out of the tooth replacement options available today, dental implants by far offer the longest lasting solution. In fact, they are sometimes called “permanent” because they can go for two or more decades still in excellent condition. However, if you have certain bad habits in your lifestyle, they may not serve you for much time. What are some of these bad habits that lead to dental implant failure? Continue reading to find out!
Bad Habit #1: Smoking, Using Tobacco, or Vaping
By now, most people understand the risks of cigarettes and other tobacco products. In addition to a heightened risk of lung cancer and other terminal conditions, tobacco increases the risk of gum disease or its implant cousin called peri-implantitis. Harmful bacteria spreads from inflamed gums to the jawbone, deteriorating support for your implants and eventually leading to failure.
Although vaping doesn’t involve smelly smoke or quite as many toxins, this habit can be just as dangerous for your oral health as smoking. These similar habits equally make it easier for bacteria in the mouth to grow and thrive, putting your implants at risk of failure.
Bad Habit #2: Chewing on Ice or Pens
Whether out of the need to fidget, anxiety, or boredom, chewing on pens at a desk or on ice at the dinner table is an unhealthy habit when it comes to your real or prosthetic teeth. The implant itself has strength and durability, but biting down on extremely hard objects can crack your restoration or weaken the bond between the implant and your jawbone. Try to find another way to work out nervous energy that won’t endanger your restored smile!
Bad Habit #3: Poor Oral Hygiene
Especially if you have a full mouth of dental implants and prosthetic teeth, you may think dental maintenance is behind you, but you’d be very wrong! White, sticky, bacteria-filled plaque can still build up on your restorations, encountering your gums and infecting them.
Just as you did before your tooth loss, you need to brush and floss your teeth every day. These tasks take only a few minutes daily, but they can extend the lifespan of your tooth replacements for years!
Bad Habit #4: Skipping Dental Checkups
Like gum disease, peri-implantitis can be tricky to identify in the early stages, which is why you must continue to visit your dentist at least every six months for checkups. During these appointments, your dentist can catch signs of infection developing and stop it before it jeopardizes your restored smile.
Bad habits may not be easy to overcome, but putting them behind you can preserve your restored teeth and your confidence. The effort you put into breaking bad habits before you get implants is well worth being able to eat your favorite foods, feel secure in your bite, and smile without being self-conscious.
About the Practice
At Flenniken Family Dentistry, we proudly can carry out the entire dental implant process in our office. To ensure your complete comfort, we have sedation options available, keeping you calm and at ease from start to finish. With decades of clinical experience and many prestigious achievements, our five dentists collaborate to deliver top-notch care to our patients every day. To schedule a dental implant consultation, reach out to our Carlisle practice online or call us at 717-249-7777.
