Habits to Avoid if You Want to Keep Your Dental Implants Safe

Dental implants are a significant investment in both your oral health and appearance. To ensure they last for years to come, it’s essential to avoid certain habits that can compromise their longevity and performance. By maintaining proper oral care and steering clear of damaging behaviors, you can protect your implants from unnecessary risks. Here are three specific habits to avoid for optimal implant health.

Smoking or Using Tobacco Products

Smoking is a leading cause of dental implant failure. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the gums and impairing the healing process after implant surgery. This slows down osseointegration, the process where the bone fuses with the implant, increasing the risk of infection and implant rejection. In addition to healing complications, smoking weakens the immune system, making your gums more susceptible to disease, which can further jeopardize the implant.

Neglecting Oral Hygiene

Even though dental implants themselves can’t decay like natural teeth, the surrounding tissues can still be affected by poor oral hygiene. Failing to brush and floss regularly leads to plaque buildup around the implant site. This can result in peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition that affects the gums and bone supporting the implant. Left untreated, peri-implantitis can cause bone loss and potentially lead to implant failure. Regular dental check-ups and a strict oral care routine are critical to keeping your implants and the surrounding areas healthy.

Chewing Hard Objects

Another habit that poses a threat to your dental implants is chewing on hard objects like ice, pens, or fingernails. This creates excessive force on the implant, which can cause cracks, fractures, or loosening of the prosthetic crown. Even though dental implants are designed to be durable, they are not immune to damage from unnecessary pressure. To protect your implants, avoid biting into hard foods like nuts, popcorn kernels, or hard candies, as these can damage both the implant and adjacent teeth.

About Our Practice

At Pace Dental of Vienna, we never make compromises when it comes to our patients’ dental care. We believe that personalized dental care can make an incredible difference in the way that you look and feel on a day-to-day basis, and that it’s our responsibility as dentists to guide you through that process. Whether you’re interested in getting dental implants, fillings, or just regular checkups, we’ll be happy to give you the tools you need to reach your smile dreams!

If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (703) 705-7476.