If you are seeking a reliable and lifelike way to replace one or more missing teeth, you might be a good candidate for dental implants. Many experts consider them the ideal way to rebuild smiles after tooth loss, given their unique advantages.
Unlike dentures and bridges, this treatment involves placing a support rod into your jaw. This eventually fuses with the bone to become a more permanent part of your mouth, but can only do so successfully if you take certain precautions. Continue reading to learn about 3 foods to avoid to help protect your dental implant following its placement!
Option #1: Raw Fruits and Vegetables
It can take several months to recover from your dental implant procedure because that’s how long it often takes the mouth to produce enough new bone growth to envelop your new tooth completely. You may want to avoid harder foods, like raw fruits and vegetables, until this process of osseointegration is complete.
Although these foods contain plenty of nutrients that can support your general health during recovery, they can be challenging to bite into and chew when your teeth are tender. Chomping into a raw carrot or apple might damage your new tooth or push it out of place, which might cause it to fail. You can still eat these ingredients, but may want to blend them into a smoothie first.
Option #2: Hard or Sticky Candy
December has arrived, and if you have a sweet tooth, you might feel tempted to enjoy a candy cane, taffy, or other sugary treat. While this might satisfy your taste buds, it could also put your restoration at risk.
Anything that’s overly hard and crunchy, like hard candies and lollipops, could push the support pole out of position, and super sticky goodies, like caramel or toffee, could yank it out of place. Furthermore, unhealthy bacteria thrive on sugar. Consuming too much could increase the risk of developing a complication, such as peri-implantitis, the leading cause of implant failure.
Option #3: Alcohol
Many people enjoy a glass of wine or beer in the evening after a long, tiring day, and it’s natural to want to unwind if you’ve just had dental work done. However, alcohol can suppress your immune system, which prevents your body from delivering essential infection-fighting cells to your mouth during recovery, increasing the risk of experiencing adverse effects.
Plus, alcohol is usually quite acidic and also often contains sugars that can irritate your already tender tissues or encourage germs to penetrate your gums to cause problems.
About the Practice
At Dalton Hunt Dentistry, you and your family benefit from two dentists eager to help you build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Hunt and Dr. Helms share decades of experience and collaborate to deliver a comprehensive menu of services conveniently under one roof, including dental implants. They have the advanced training and state-of-the-art equipment to perform the entire procedure from start-to-finish, including oral surgery, in the office for a more comfortable and streamlined experience. You can request an appointment on the website or call (919) 787-8243.