Now that you have dental implants, you can once again enjoy speaking clearly, smiling brightly, and chewing a variety of delicious, healthy foods. That’s because even though your dental implants aren’t “real” teeth, they’re still durable, natural-looking, and fully functional prosthetics. But did you know there’s at least one important thing your dental implants can’t do? Keep reading to find out what it is!
What’s the One Thing Your Dental Implants Can’t Do?
While your dental implants are capable of so many amazing things, the one thing they can’t do is get cavities! That’s because they’re not “real” teeth, and thus cannot become damaged by those pesky plaque bacteria known as s. mutans.
Unfortunately, however, even though they can’t get cavities, your dental implants still can fall out or become damaged if you’re not careful, so here’s a few tips for keeping them safe!
Watch Your Diet
While you can enjoy many nutritious foods with your dental implants, be careful that you only eat foods that are tooth safe. Avoid things like hard candies, crunching ice cubes, or even very hard pretzels or crackers.
Furthermore, be sure to only chew on food with your new teeth; do not use them to bite your fingernails, chew on pen caps, or tear open packaging.
Don’t Forget Your Hygiene
Even though you can’t get cavities in your dental implant crowns, you can still get gum disease if you don ‘t brush them well twice a day and floss daily. Thus, maintaining a regular, thorough oral hygiene regimen will help keep any remaining teeth and your gums healthy so that your implants are not in danger of failure due to further bone deterioration.
Visit Your Dentist
Although your dental implants aren’t “real” teeth, you still need to visit your dentist at least twice a year for your semi-annual checkup and cleanings. This is because your crowns can still get plaque buildup, and you dentist still needs to monitor the health of your gums, jawbones, dental implants, and of course any remaining natural teeth.
The bottom line is that while your dental implants can’t get cavities, your real teeth still can. They can also still get tartar buildup, and your gums will still be susceptible to gum disease if you don’t take care of your teeth properly. Thus, be sure to stay on top of your oral hygiene, and your implants will help keep you smiling for a lifetime!
About Our Practice
At Gentle Dentistry Sparta, we are proud to help restore our patients’ smiles with the help of dental implants. Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth restoration, and with proper care and usage can last a lifetime. If you’re interested in learning more about how our team of skilled dentists can replace your missing teeth with the help of dental implants, please visit our website to schedule an appointment, or call us today at 973-729-9044.