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If you’ve recently gotten dental implants in South Austin, congratulations on your new beautiful and functional smile! These durable restorations replace missing teeth both above and below the gumline, which allows them to stay soundly in place for 25-30 years. However, they can easily last an entire lifetime with the proper care. Here are the top five ways you can make the most out of your dental implants.

1.) PRACTICE GREAT ORAL HYGIENE

While your dental implants can’t decay, the gum tissue underneath and the nearby teeth are still susceptible to bacteria and plaque buildup. Your daily dental routine should include brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, flossing between your teeth at least once a day, and using an antiseptic mouthwash regularly.

2.) USE THE RIGHT CLEANING TOOLS

Cleaning your dental implants with the wrong tools may do them more harm than good. Abrasive products like hard-bristled toothbrushes and whitening toothpastes can scratch and weaken them. Instead, make sure you only use toothbrushes with soft bristles and gentle toothpastes.

3.) WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

One of the many benefits of dental implants is that they allow you to enjoy all your favorite foods again! However, they are still vulnerable to snacks that can damage natural teeth. Do your best to avoid or limit eating items like ice, dried fruits, nuts, taffy, and raw vegetables.

4.) BREAK BAD HABITS

To keep both your dental implant and your natural teeth healthy and intact, its essential to break bad habits. Instead of chewing on hard objects like pen caps or your fingernails, try eating a piece of sugarless gum. If you suffer from nightly teeth grinding, talk to your dentist about a custom night guard to protect your teeth. Most importantly, you should quit smoking or chewing tobacco. Alongside numerous other issues, these products take a toll on your oral health, which could lead to dental implant failure.

5.) SEE YOUR DENTIST REGULARLY

Biannual dental checkups and cleanings play a key role in keeping your whole mouth healthy. These routine visits give your South Austin dentist a chance to ensure the wellbeing of your dental implant over time. This way, they can spot and stop any potential issues before they have a chance to develop.

All in all, dental implants don’t require special care like other tooth replacement options do. Keeping your newly rebuilt smile happy and healthy for a lifetime is as easy as practicing these five simple yet effective care tips!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whether you’re missing one, several, or all of your teeth, Dental Centre in South Austin, TX can help you regain your smile. Dr. Jack Fran offers comprehensive dental implant treatments that are designed to be a permanent solution for all levels of tooth loss. Once your beautiful smile has been restored, he’d be happy to help you keep it looking and feeling its best for years with regular dental checkups and cleanings. If you have more questions about caring for your dental implant, feel free to contact him via his website or at (512) 361-4288.