Dental Implants and Your Diet

Dental implants are fairly low-maintenance and can last a lifetime when cared for properly. Porcelain dental crowns are resistant to stains and discoloration, but plaque build-up can lead to infections, gum problems and bad breath. Prevent problems by brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist every six months or so.

Aside from proper dental hygiene, make dental implants last by protecting them from chipping and breakage. Avoid trauma to the dental implant site, and avoid hard foods that can chip or damage dental crowns.

Watch What You Eat

Implant-supported crowns are stable because they are designed to fuse with bone, but that’s no reason to ignore what you put in your mouth. Chewing tough food can impose unnecessary stress on the implants and on the bone that support these implants, leading to loose roots. Chewing hard foods and snacks can also cause micro tears in dental crowns and erode the porcelain material, causing chipping and breakage.

Avoid foods that are difficult to chew like hard candy, seeds, ice and tough meat. Eat sticky foods and sweets in moderation, as these can be difficult to clean off. Sticky substances that get lodged in between crowns and hard to reach areas can turn into plaque and tartar. Other than these foods, you can eat pretty much anything you want. Just make sure to brush your teeth (real and artificial) after each meal or rinse your mouth with water or antibacterial mouthwash if you can’t brush.

Dental implants offer more flexibility and food choices compared to removable dentures. You only need to consider the texture and hardness of the food you’re eating to avoid stress on the implants and your jawbone.

Santa Cruz implant dentist Dr. Matiasevich, Jr. offers conventional dental implants, teeth in an hour, mini dental implants and other permanent solutions to missing teeth. Call 831-440-7577 today for a complimentary consultation.