4 Ways To Protect Your Teeth Implants
Dental implants can replace teeth that have been lost for numerous reasons, including tooth decay or a blow to the mouth. Once implants have been positioned in your mouth, they tend to look natural and are difficult to discern from your other teeth. Still, a dental implant restoration does require care in order to prevent implant failure. Here are a few things that you can do to protect your teeth implants:
Brush and floss around the implants.
Although an implant is not a natural tooth and cannot develop a cavity, the gums around dental implants can still develop gum disease. A serious case of gum disease, which is called periodontitis, can result in implant failure as the connective tissues that support the implant are diminished by the disease. Additionally, severe gum disease can cause a loss of jawbone material.
After a dental implant is installed, the implant wound undergoes a healing process called osseointegration. During this process, the jawbone connects to the dental implant to provide stability. If the jawbone wears away or becomes less dense, it can affect the support provided to the dental implant.
Wear a mouthguard if you play sports.
A blow to the mouth during a sporting event can knock out teeth implants. Likewise, a dental implant can be loosened or knocked from the mouth during contact play in active sports, such as basketball, football or soccer. Once an implant becomes loosened by trauma, it does not re-stabilize in the mouth. Instead, a new dental implant must be installed.
Use a bruxism guard at night.
If you know that you regularly grind your teeth at night, it is best to wear a mouthguard. Although people who suffer from bruxism do not intentionally grind their teeth, if grinding episodes have been noticed by family members in the past, it is best to wear a night guard in case an episode occurs.
Each episode of bruxism can place a tremendous amount of force on a dental implant. This pressure can chip or crack natural teeth and can shift dental implants within the bone.
Refrain from chewing on hard or extremely sticky substances.
Even though you may enjoy hard candies and chewy treats, such as taffy or caramel, it may be best to avoid these items to protect your teeth implants. The sticky nature of these foods can pry the dental crown from the abutment that connects it to the dental implant. This may not result in an implant failure, but it may still require a crown to be replaced or reapplied by your dentist.
To learn more ways to protect your teeth implants, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.
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