Dental implants look just like “real” teeth. They’re the same size, shape, color, and surprisingly feel nearly identical in texture, too. They even work just like them, allowing for the most bite force of any prosthetics, thus enabling you to eat a wider variety of nutritious foods. But one question a lot of people ask about these lifelike restorations is, “can my dental implants get cavities like real teeth do?” and it’s easy to understand why. After all, they do seem pretty realistic. Thankfully the answer is no, however that doesn’t mean you don’t still need to take care of them. If you’re wondering what kind of oral health issues you can still encounter with dental implants and why it’s so important to maintain them, keep reading.
Caring for Your Dental Implants
Caring for your dental implants is easy. Just do the same things you would with your natural teeth: brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit your dentist twice a year for your semi-annual exam and cleaning. Beyond that, they require no special equipment or steps.
The Importance of Maintaining Your Oral Health with Dental Implants
Though they cannot get cavities, there are still plenty of ways to endanger your oral health and your dental implants if you aren’t careful. For starters, failure to brush them regularly can result in discoloration, bad breath, and gum disease. Gum disease can result in implant failure, meaning the implant itself that is secured to your jaw could fall out. You would then either need a bone graft to rebuild your bone before attempting to install a new implant, or you simply may not be able to replace it at all.
Other Ways You Can Damage Dental Implants
Dental implant crowns can also become damaged if you’re not careful with them. Though your implants restore more of your bite force than any other type of restoration, you can’t use them to chew absolutely anything. For example, it is not recommended that you use them for anything but food. That means no biting your fingernails, no chewing on pen caps, and no tearing into packaging with them. It is also suggested that you avoid crunching ice cubes with them. Otherwise, they should be durable enough to handle even the crunchiest carrot!
Remember, just because your dental implants can’t get cavities, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of them just like real teeth. The better your oral health, the longer your implants will last.
About Dr. Gromling
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling has been practicing dentistry for almost 40 years. In that time he has helped numerous families that are still his patients today. What sets him apart is his kindness, compassion, and skills. Whether you need an exam and cleaning, a cosmetic treatment, or dental implants, Dr. Gromling and his team are proud to help.
To schedule an appointment for dental implants, please visit our website or call us today at 540-869-4377.