When you replace your teeth with CeraSmile® or any procedure that involves dental implants, it’s more important than ever to include gum disease prevention as part of your daily routine. Otherwise, gum disease can lead to bone loss and cause your implants to fail. Here are 6 tips to help prevent gum disease and make your implants last as long as possible.
1. Brush and Floss Daily
One of the most important habits to incorporate into your daily routine that will ultimately prevent gum disease is brushing and flossing daily. Although when you have CeraSmile® you no longer have real teeth, it’s still important to brush and floss. Yes, you don’t have to worry about cavities. But you do have to worry about bacteria.
Plaque can still build up on your false teeth. If you don’t brush it away, it will leave a yellow film that feels rough, just like plaque on real teeth. Without brushing it away, it can harden into tartar that can only be removed by your dentist. The lingering plaque and tartar will lead to a discolored smile in addition to bad breath.
Even if you’re brushing away all plaque, some can still get stuck along your implants. When it does, this is how the start of gum disease happens. Flossing with dental implants is just as important as flossing with natural teeth. To floss between your implants and CeraSmile® bridge, use a floss threader to get between the bridge and your gums. Then floss all around all of your implants. You can also use special floss with a pointy end if you don’t want to deal with a threader. Water flossers are also effective for plaque and bacteria removal between implants and the bridge.
Make sure not to skip brushing or flossing or you can end up with gum disease!
2. Visit the Dentist Regularly
Another important tip for preventing gum disease with an implant bridge is continuing to visit the dentist regularly. You might think that now that you don’t have natural teeth that there is no reason to visit the dentist regularly. This is not the case. You need to visit the dentist regularly so that your dentist can make sure that you don’t have gum disease, that your implants are still in good health, and that your CeraSmile® bridge isn’t damaged. If your dentist does see any potential problems, they can address them before they get worse. Treating gum disease and other problems early can prevent your implants from failing and CeraSmile® bridge from damage.
3. Don’t Smoke
Smoking cigarettes or using any type of tobacco products (including vaping) can contribute to gum disease and affect your overall health. One of the best ways to avoid gum disease is simply not using any tobacco products or smoking. So what about smoking and tobacco products contribute to gum disease? The chemicals inside cigarettes in combination with the smoke itself can inflame the gums. Smoking also weakens your immune system which makes it harder for the body to fight off infections like the early stages of gum disease. The longer and more frequently you smoke, the higher risk of gum disease you have.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
Your diet can also play a role in gum disease development. For instance, if you eat a lot of sugary and starchy foods, you’re more prone to higher levels of plaque. Plaque accumulation near the implants is what can cause gum disease. To prevent gum disease, it’s important to eat a balanced diet full of fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meat, and whole grains. Try to avoid sugary drinks and highly processed foods.
5. Manage Stress Levels
You might not think that stress and gum disease are linked, but they are. When you’re stressed out, it affects your immune system. When your immune system isn’t functioning at full capacity, it can’t fight off small infections like mild gum disease. Instead, the infections thrive and become worse. By managing your stress levels and preventing them from getting too high, you can keep your immune system functioning at top capacity.
6. Stay Hydrated
If you’re not drinking enough water during the day, you might suffer from a dry mouth. Staying hydrated is important for saliva production. Saliva is what washes away bacteria from your mouth. If you don’t drink enough water, bacteria is lingering around longer than it should which can contribute to gum disease. Make sure to drink at least 64 ounces of water throughout the day (especially after eating) to help wash bacteria away and prevent dry mouth from occurring.
Experience a Better Alternative to Dentures with CeraSmile®
If you don’t currently have CeraSmile® but you’re unhappy with your current dentures or implant bridge, maybe now is the time for a change. Although you can get gum disease with any tooth-replacement option, our tips can help you avoid that from happening. Find out if CeraSmile® is right for you by finding a CeraSmile® dentist near you and booking a consultation.
