Dental implants are awesome—these tiny titanium posts can completely restore and enhance your smile, giving it a new look, feel, and level of functionality. But many people are concerned with how treatment options like dental implants affect their diet—after all, it’s tough to give up some of your favorite foods! However, assuming your dental implants are successful, they will still allow you to enjoy many of your favorite foods, especially those that are popular during this time of the year. Here’s what you need to know about dental implants and how they affect your summertime diet.
How Dental Implants Influence Your Diet
Dental implants are in a class of their own when it comes to restoring missing teeth; while other treatment options like dentures simply rest on your teeth, implants are surgically inserted into your jaw, where they fuse with the bone through a process called osseointegration. This is completely safe, as the titanium posts are fully biocompatible.
As a result, the foundation is just as sturdy as the roots of your natural teeth—meaning your biting force and chewing power is nearly restored to normal healthy levels! You also don’t have to worry about your teeth slipping around your mouth or falling out due to constant motion. Because of all this, dental implants are a great solution that doesn’t inhibit your ability to eat.
Common Summer Foods You Can Enjoy
Since dental implants are pretty darn similar in strength and appearance to your natural teeth, they allow you to enjoy many iconic summertime snacks and staples including:
- Steaks, kabobs, and other grilled meats.
- Fruits like apples, pears, berries, and watermelon.
- Corn on the cob (be careful about kernels getting stuck in your teeth).
- Cucumbers, zucchini, and summer squash.
Tips For Keeping Your New Smile Pristine
Your dental implants are tough, but they aren’t invincible; although they allow you to enjoy many of the foods that other dental treatments discourage and prohibit, there are still some things you want to keep in mind to keep your implants intact.
You should avoid biting into things that could potentially chip or crack your implants—ice cubes are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to fractured teeth and implants! Certain summertime treats like caramel apples and peanut brittle can also damage your implants. Anything excessively hard or sticky should be evaded when possible. You should also try to minimize your intake of foods and drinks that are high in sugars—tooth decay is still a big risk if you have dental implants!
Summertime is meant for family, friends, fun, and food—and having dental implants won’t prevent you from enjoying many of your favorite snacks this season!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Concepts has served patients and families in the Dyer community for several years! Their team consists of five elite dentists: Dr. Danny Hayes, Dr. Christine Mousa, Dr. Lauren Hansen, Dr. Stephen Koveck, and Dr. Shane Harmon—all of whom have several years of experience and expertise in a wide variety of fields. Their practice is proud to offer many services including dental implants! If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out through the practice’s website or by phone: (219) 763-6878.