If you’re seeking a reliable, lifelike solution for tooth loss, you might be a good candidate for dental implants. These are the only replacement teeth that are embedded in your jaw to become a more permanent part of your mouth.
But if you don’t take the proper precautions, such as choosing foods carefully, you might accidentally harm your new teeth. Continue reading to learn more about how your diet affects your restorations and which foods help maintain them!
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Unlike alternative solutions, like dentures and dental bridges, getting dental implants involves oral surgery. This treatment requires that a small post, usually made of titanium or durable ceramic, be placed in your jaw. Then, it can take about 3 to 6 months to recover, as your mouth generates enough new bone to completely fuse with this support in a process called osseointegration.
Once you’ve healed sufficiently, your dentist can make impressions to build a one-of-a-kind prosthetic, such as a dental crown, bridge, or dentures, which anchor to your implant(s) to remain firmly in place.
As a result, your new replacement teeth look and function more like your natural teeth than other options.
How Does My Diet Affect Dental Implants?
This procedure has an incredibly high success rate of over 90%, meaning most patients won’t experience complications as long as they follow the provided post-operative instructions carefully.
For example, you might be asked to stick to soft foods for a while, until your gums and jaw heal enough to resume eating more solid foods. Thankfully, once osseointegration is completed successfully, your restoration is firmly rooted in place so you can enjoy most of your favorite foods without worrying about harming them. However, it’s best to avoid anything too hard, sticky, or crunchy, which might damage or destabilize your prosthetics.
What Foods Support Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the only replacement teeth that return up to 80% or more of your original chewing power, so you can continue to enjoy a variety of wholesome ingredients that support your oral and overall health. But did you know certain foods can help maintain your new teeth?
For instance, dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, have lots of calcium to help build strong teeth and bones, which can help your jaw fuse with your new tooth. You might also incorporate more citrus fruits and leafy greens, which are often high in vitamin C, to support your connective tissues. Finally, eating fatty fish and egg yolks or taking a walk on a sunny day can improve your vitamin D levels, which help your body absorb calcium from the foods you eat.
If you have additional questions about what foods to enjoy or avoid to help preserve your new dental implants, you can learn more by contacting your provider’s office directly!
Meet the Author
Dr. Karen Neil has 30+ years of experience helping families improve their daily lives by enhancing their smiles. She takes the time to get to know you and your unique concerns and goals, then uses state-of-the-art technology to devise customized treatment plans to meet them. She provides a complete menu of services, including restoring implants, and works closely with local experts for accurate implant placement. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (817) 738-3368.