Dental implants are the most durable tooth replacement option that there is, with over 95% of them remaining successful at 20 years, and many of them lasting as long as 30 when cared for well.
For the most part, maintaining your dental implants includes a lot of things that you would expect—brushing them twice a day, flossing around them to break up plaque, and using mouthwash to stave off infection.
However, there are also plenty of ways that a balanced diet can support the strength of your dental implants. Here are some foods that may be helpful if you’re trying to get your dental implants to last.
Foods With Vitamin D and Calcium
The main thing that makes dental implants stand out from other tooth replacement options is the fact that they screw into the jawbone, meaning that they have an extra level of support that other methods of tooth replacement do not.
However, this also means that the success of your dental implants is heavily dependent on your overall bone health. That being the case, you might want to incorporate some foods into your diet that can help you develop strong bones.
The two nutrients most vital to bone health are calcium and vitamin D, both of which you can get plenty of from your diet. For example, some good sources of these nutrients are:
- Fatty fish
- Milk, eggs, and other dairy products
- Fortified cereal
- Leafy Greens
- Tofu
- Fortified Orange Juice
Foods to Stave Off Infection
The primary way that dental implants can fail is due to an infection known as peri-implantitis. This disease is usually a by-product of gum disease that has seeped deep below the gum line. These bacteria can then begin to flourish, attacking gum and bone tissue under the surface. In extreme cases, this can even cause the dental implant to fall out.
You may want to incorporate some foods into your diet that can strengthen your immune system, like those that contain vitamin C or anti-inflammatories. These include:
- Citrus fruits
- Berries, like strawberries and raspberries
- Garlic and onions
- Ginger
- Turmeric and black pepper
- Leafy greens
- Nuts and seeds
- Yogurt, kimchi, and other fermented foods
- Oily fish
- Green tea
About Our Practice
At Spillman Family Dental of Rockwall, we know that dentistry is all about problem-solving. Whether you’re coming to us with a toothache or a smile that doesn’t look quite how you’d like, we’re happy to say that we can give you the care that you need to feel 100%! We’ll also take the time to get to know you individually, so that we can understand where you’re coming from and get you where you’re going.
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (972) 945-0887.