We know. The last thing you want to do on Valentine’s Day is worry about your dental implants and your oral health! What you want to do is to focus on love, romance, and all of the things that put a smile on your face. As you may have noticed, we like to remain proactive when it comes to preventing possible problems. Wouldn’t you like to make it through this special day without accidentally damaging your smile? Of course! As a result, we offer up a bit of guidance, so you can make mindful choices with your holiday-themed treats.
Okay: Pastries And Chocolates
If you have dental implants in place, don’t worry: Choosing to indulge in soft pastries and chocolates isn’t going to cause any major concerns. True, they’re full of sugar, which means they can coat your smile and encourage issues like decay and gum disease. However, these treats dissolve very fast! In addition, if you swish with water after this treat (and follow it up by brushing a bit later), you’ll be perfectly fine.
Bad: Taffies, Chewy Candy, Gummy Candy
Now, we’ve left the quick-to-dissolve Valentine’s treats and have headed into everything-that-sticks-to-your-teeth territory. Remember that these textures cause a couple major problems for your oral health and potentially for your dental implants:
- Sticky candy coats your smile, which is the opposite of what you want as you try to prevent decay and gum inflammation. You may rinse then brush after but, until you do, your smile will continue bathing in sugar.
- Sticky candies can damage dental work (such as dislodging a crown).
Even Worse: Message Hearts
We suggest you skip these altogether if you have dental implants. They are extremely hard, which can lead to too much pressure placed on implants (which promotes failure) and damaged restorations.
Protect Your Implants Today And Every Day With Tips
We offer tips for every aspect of your oral health, including keeping your dental implants safe! To schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly welcome patients of all ages from Cerritos, CA, and all surrounding communities, such as Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and more.
