Some of the benefits that dental implants offer are obvious. They fill in the gaps in your smile, they let you enjoy all your favorite foods again, and they provide a much sturdier alternative to traditional bridges and dentures. But did you realize that they could also make a difference for your overall oral health? Here are just a few of the ways that dental implants placed by a skilled oral surgeon help you take care of your mouth and ensure that your new smile lasts for a long time. 1. Prevent Further Tooth Loss It’s a frightening fact that losing one tooth could eventually lead to losing more teeth. When a tooth is removed, the part of the jawbone that used to hold it in place starts to deteriorate. As your jawbone gets weaker over time, your risk of losing teeth will increase. Fortunately, dental implants can help you avoid this issue. They mimic the functions of your natural tooth roots, and as such, they can make sure that the jawbone gets the stimulation it needs to avoid deterioration. In short, dental implants help you maintain your jaw, which in turn makes it more likely that you’ll be able to keep your other teeth. 2. Protect the Mouth from Gum Disease Traditional dentures and bridges can be difficult to clean. If you can’t maintain good oral hygiene, you could eventually develop gum disease. It starts with mild swelling and bleeding, but eventually, it could lead to a severe infection and tooth loss. Even worse, the bacteria from gum disease can travel to different parts of your body and increase your risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions. Compared to dentures and implants, dental implants are much easier to clean because they feel and behave like natural teeth. You can brush and floss them as easily as you would the rest of your mouth, which makes it easier to keep gum disease at bay. 3. Maintain a Healthy Diet If you have dentures or bridges, your dentist may give you a list of foods to avoid. Unfortunately, this can include a wide variety of healthy foods, such as carrots, corn on the cob, raspberries, apples, pears, nuts, and certain whole grains. The fewer foods you can enjoy, the fewer options you have for eating right. But with dental implants, there are no diet restrictions. The posts will offer enough chewing power for you to enjoy virtually any kind of food, and that means you can eat whatever you need to in order to keep your body healthy. 4. Improved Quality of Life Dentures that don’t fit correctly can slip at embarrassing moments and cause a lot of discomfort. They can also affect your confidence and your sense of self-worth, which can have an impact on your mental health and your quality of life. Dental implants stay firmly in your mouth at all times, and they look as natural as they feel. This makes it much easier to feel confident about your smile, thus giving your self-esteem a boost. And when you feel good about yourself, you’re more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as exercising and socializing with others. Dental implants can be life-changing, but are they right for you? Schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon today to find out.
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