There’s nothing quite like recovering the use of something you’ve lost. When teeth are the thing you lost, recovering your ability to chew your favorite foods or smile without embarrassment is priceless. Regardless of whether you had a single dental implant crown placed or your received one visit implant dentures, protecting your new smile should be a top priority. Unfortunately, following these three bad habits could lead to implant failure and cause you to lose the use of your teeth . . . again.
1. Keep Smoking
Chances are, if you received dental implants, your dentist asked you to stop smoking prior to the implant placement procedure. If you pick the habit back up after the procedure, then you run an increased risk for dental implant failure, a pricy and sometimes painful complication in which the implant fails to heal properly and loosens in the socket. Smoking cigarettes (and even chewing smokeless tobacco) reduces the flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body, suppressing the body’s normal healing response. If you quit before the procedure, take this opportunity to quit for life.
2. Don't Brush and Floss
Failing to take proper care of your teeth may have led to the loss of your teeth in the first place. If you expended the finances and time to have one visit implants placed, you owe it to yourself (and your pocketbook) to protect that investment by taking the time to properly care for your new teeth:
- Brush your teeth with a soft bristled brush after every meal or at least two times per day.
- Floss every evening. If flossing is difficult for you, consider using a water flosser. These handheld devices shoot jets of water between teeth to remove plaque and food debris. Some brands even have special attachment tips designed for use with dental implants.
- Visit your general dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months. In some cases, your dentist may wish to see you for preventive care more often, so he can keep a closer eye on developing problems.
3. Don't Control Your Diabetes
According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, diabetics are at a much higher risk of tooth loss due to severe gum disease than non-diabetics. Unfortunately, uncontrolled blood sugar can also increase your risk of peri-implantitis, a gum disease-like infection that affects the gum and bone tissue surrounding a dental implant post. Patients who made the effort to control their diabetes prior to receiving implants should continue taking steps to maintain control of their blood sugar via medication, diet, and exercise.
About Dr. Marco Cueva
Marco Cueva, DDS, MS is a board-certified periodontist with extensive training and experience providing a full range of advanced periodontal care services, including dental implants like the revolutionary All-on-4 one visit implant dentures. New patients can schedule an appointment or consultation with Periodontic Excellence at our Allen, TX Office by calling 972-390-9944.
