3 Ways You Can Set Your Dental Implants Up for Success

For several years now, dental implants have been considered the gold standard of tooth replacement; this impressive solution is capable of fully restoring the beauty and functionality of a smile that’s been ravaged by tooth loss. That said, as fantastic as dental implants are, they can still fail under unfavorable circumstances. If you have dental implants or are slated to receive them, here are 3 notable lifestyle changes you can make that are certain to help you keep your implants intact for the foreseeable future.

1. Rehabilitate Your Mouth

If you’re a dental implant candidate, you should know that dental implants can only be facilitated by a healthy mouth; this means that regular oral hygiene coupled with routine preventive care is paramount. These practices will keep gum disease at bay, which is arguably the single-largest threat to dental implants both before and after they’ve been placed. If you have early signs of gum disease, with proper treatment your mouth can be rehabilitated and made ready for dental implants. From there, it’s a matter of maintaining optimal oral health and keeping the gums pristine and free from issues!

2. Quit Smoking & Avoid Other Poor Oral Habits

Smoking is notoriously one of the worst habits you can partake in—it can increase your risk of gum disease, oral cancer, and various other types of unpleasant issues. This is because smoking can decrease your body’s overall healing factor, and the longer it takes for your implant sites to heal, the more opportunities there are for bacteria to cause infection or other issues. Needless to say, this can also greatly impede osseointegration, or the process by which the dental implant posts fuse with the jawbone. 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. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

It goes without saying that trying to lead a healthy lifestyle will pay huge dividends later on, as it can stave off all sorts of nasty issues that affect your oral and overall wellness! In addition to kicking bad oral habits, eating hearty, vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods, drinking plenty of water, and opting for regular exercise can all improve your body’s immune system, which gives you favorable odds against infections and other threats to your dental implants. Simply put, a healthy lifestyle reduces your controllable risk factors associated with health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, both of which are closely linked with oral wellness and by proxy, the integrity of your dental implants.

About the Author

Dr. Karen Ho received her DDS from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and has proudly served patients and families in the Campbell, CA area for several years! Her practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of restorative treatments including dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to arrange a visit, feel free to reach out online or over the phone for further assistance: (408) 583-5764.