Habits to Avoid When You Have Dental Implants

June 21, 2022

Dental implants in Marco Island require maintenance, like natural teeth, to avoid implant failure. You must abstain from these three habits once dental implants are installed to replace your lost teeth.

a view of one of the Dental implants in Marco Island

What You Shouldn't Do When You Have Dental Implants

Smoking

If you choose to have dental implants, you’d also have to commit to stopping your smoking habit for life. Nicotine and tobacco use can cause the implants to fail by restricting the blood flow in the gums. Unfortunately, the tissues and bones supporting the implant cannot heal optimally with diminished blood supply.

Impaired healing after dental implant surgery may also lead to other complications, including peri-implantitis and marginal bone loss. Peri-implantitis is the swelling of the gums surrounding the implants. On the other hand, marginal bone loss means loss of the bone structure surrounding the dental appliance.

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol weakens natural teeth and has similar adverse effects on dental implants. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption diminishes bone growth regardless of severity. Consuming alcohol right after dental implant surgery can increase the time needed for the implant to integrate with the jawbones.

Another research also found that heavy drinking with dental implants heightens the risk of peri-implantitis within two years after the surgery.

Lack of Proper Oral Hygiene

Both prosthetic and natural teeth require proper oral hygiene. Plaque can still build up on artificial teeth and irritate the gums near the implants. At its early stage, which dentists call peri-implant mucositis, the inflammation damages only the tissue and do not result in bone loss.

Similar to gingivitis, peri-implant mucositis can be reversed through treatment. If you don’t seek help promptly, the condition will worsen into peri-implantitis. Like periodontitis, the advanced gum infection will cause loss of bones supporting the implant and lead to failure.

Prevention is always better than cure. You can avoid these implant complications by regularly brushing and flossing the teeth. Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drink plenty of water.