From family barbeques to romantic picnics, summer is filled with lots of activities surrounding food. If you struggled with tooth loss in the past, then you may have had to miss out on indulging in your favorites. However, with dental implants, you’ll be able to smile and chew with confidence throughout this beautiful season. If you’re unsure of which summer foods you should and shouldn’t fill your plate with, keep reading!
8 Foods to Fill Your Plate With
Dental implants don’t just restore your smile, they restore your bite too! By inserting the implant post directly into your jawbone, you can confidently chew into all of your favorites this season, including:
- Refreshing salads.
- Fresh fruit.
- Cooked veggies.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Deviled eggs.
- Pasta salad.
- Delicious proteins (i.e., chicken, steak, fish).
- Ice cream.
Important Tips to Preserve Your Dental Implants
Like your natural teeth, your dental implants require proper maintenance. To keep your new and improved smile in pristine condition this summer and beyond, make sure to implement the below best practices:
- Continue to practice good oral care – With a more relaxed schedule, you may be tempted to ease up on your dental hygiene regimen. However, consistently brushing and flossing your teeth and dental implants is essential to preventing implant failure. So, make sure to brush your teeth for two full minutes after each meal (or at least twice a day), floss daily, and use mouthwash regularly.
- Exercise caution with extremely hard or sticky foods – All it takes is one wrong crunch into an ice cube, piece of peanut brittle, or rogue popcorn kernel for your dental implant to chip or crack. To prevent that from happening, exercise caution with extremely hard or sticky foods.
- Limit your sugar consumption – Although your dental implants are resistant to decay and infection, your surrounding teeth and gums aren’t. Therefore, keep your sugar consumption to a minimum, reserving products like soda and candy for special occasions.
- Schedule your dental checkup and cleaning – Summer is in full swing, which means 2021 is already halfway through! So, if you have yet to schedule your six-month dental checkup and cleaning, now is the time to do so. Remember, these appointments are essential to keeping your teeth and restorations in pristine condition throughout the years.
This summer, you should fully enjoy hanging out with your loved ones around the barbeque, at a picnic, or by the pool. To keep your dental implants in good shape throughout all of your summertime activities, just be sure to fill your plate with the right foods and implement the above best practices!
About the Author
For nearly four decades now, Dr. Thomas A. Gromling has helped his nearby patients with everything from routine checkups to more complex treatments, like dental implants. He earned his dental doctorate at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University and has since completed continuing education courses at world-renowned institutions like the L.D. Pankey Institute Continuum for Advanced Dentistry. His skill and commitment to the field of dentistry have earned him Fellow status at the Academy of General Dentistry too! So, if you’re interested in learning more about caring for your dental implants or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit his website or give him a call at 540-869-4377.