It’s been a while since you got your dental implants in West Bloomfield, and your smile is beautiful. No one can tell the difference between your implants and your natural teeth. Sometimes, neither can you! But in order to keep your smile radiant, you must be careful about protecting your new smile and avoiding actions that can risk damaging it. Here are 4 very common but very bad habits that may harm your dental implants:
Bad Habit #1: Crunching on Ice Cubes
After finishing a soft drink or iced tea, it’s normal to start chewing on the leftover ice cubes at the bottom of your cup. But did you know that that pressure from each satisfying crunch can cause your implant-retained teeth to crack or chip? Instead of ice, try chomping down on nuts like almonds or walnuts. Nuts contain magnesium, iron, and calcium to help keep you and your natural teeth strong and healthy. They also stimulate saliva, keeping harmful bacteria at bay.
Bad Habit #2: Smoking
Whether you smoke 1 cigarette per day or 17, it is affecting your oral health. Smoking can make the healing process much slower after getting implants, and people who smoke are 2-to-3 times more likely to be at risk of losing their dental implants all together. Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, it can be very difficult. But there are many programs available today to help make the process easier. The CDC mentions utilizing quitlines with coaches to help you create your own plan to quit, but there are also medications and apps that can help. Your primary care physician can help you decide which options might be best for you.
Bad Habit #3: Using Your Teeth Instead of a Tool
In movies, we’ve seen people open bottles or crack nuts with their teeth as a cool party trick. But in real life, doing this or any other actions is likely to chip, crack, or break your brand new smile on the first (or second) try. Your best bet is to simply take time to a bottle opener, a nutcracker, or scissors to get the job done. Your dental implants will thank you!
Bad Habit #4: Drinking Wine
Some research shows that drinking a glass of wine each day can be good for your health, but it can also be bad for your implants. Consuming red wine can stain your new ceramic “teeth.” If you must have your glass of wine, try eating cheese with it. Cheese, especially hard cheese, covers your new and natural teeth alike with calcium, which helps to prevent wine from sticking or staining.
Your dentist in West Bloomfield can recommend more tips on how to protect both your dental implants and your natural teeth. With proper care, your new smile can last for years to come!
About the Practice
The team of doctors at LakeView Family Dental provides all patients with a safe, comfortable environment. State-of-the-art technology allows your dental implant process to be completed from start to finish in this one office, followed by exemplary aftercare. To learn more about the services offered, visit the website or contact the office at (248) 363-3304.