Some people bite their nails when they’re anxious or bored. Others use their pearly whites to open bottles or packages. Though these things may seem harmless enough they can do some serious damage to your teeth. Additionally, if you have dental implants to replace missing teeth, using them for these purposes puts you at risk of breaking or otherwise harming your restorations. Read on to learn about five bad habits that should be avoided to prevent damage to your natural teeth and your dental implants.
Habit #1: Bad Oral Hygiene
Though dental implants can’t get cavities, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of your smile. If you don’t brush and floss twice per day, your chances of developing gum disease go up. Gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, is often the result of poor oral health. If it develops into a more severe infection called periodontitis, this may ultimately cause both your natural teeth and your implants to fall out.
Habit #2: Consuming Too Much Sugar
When we eat sugar, bacteria in our mouths feed off it and release acids that attack our tooth enamel. This makes our pearly whites more susceptible to decay. These same bacteria may also attack the gums, which can lead to periodontal disease. Left untreated, this may lead to jawbone erosion, which can cause implant failure.
Habit #3: Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Smokers are at least twice as likely to develop gum disease as nonsmokers and 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer. Both of these oral health issues can lead to implant failure, so make sure to speak with your dentist, doctor, or therapist for resources to help you quit.
Habit #4: Biting Non-food Items
Chewing on your fingernails, biting down on hard candy, eating ice, and opening bottles and other containers with your teeth can damage your dental implants and your natural teeth. Biting non-food items can cause chips, cracks, and fractures to form, which weakens your smile. Have the right tools on hand to avoid temptation or chew on sugar-free gum to keep your mouth occupied.
Habit #5: Skipping Dental Checkups
Some people think that they only need to visit the dentist if they’re experiencing pain, discomfort, or other issues with their smile. In reality, biannual visits to the dentist are an excellent way to keep oral health issues at bay. During these appointments, your hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove tartar buildups. Your dentist will then examine the oral cavity for issues that may lead to dental problems like implant failure. Skipping these appointments raises your chances of developing issues with your dental implants.
Protect your investment by avoiding these five bad habits with your replacement teeth. Not only will this protect your implants, but it will also make your replacements last longer so you can enjoy a healthy smile for years to come!
About the Practice
If you have missing teeth and want to have them replaced, Covina Family Dental offers high-quality, lifelike, and durable dental implants that can fill in the gaps in your smile and give you back some of your bite power. They work with a team of local dental implant experts to ensure that your new smile will last. To make an appointment with Covina Family Dental or for more information on bad habits that should be avoided with dental implants, call their office at (626) 331-0688 or visit their website.