9 Ways Dental Implants Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Missing teeth and dentures can impact your quality of life. In addition to making eating and speaking more difficult, when you’re not comfortable smiling, you don’t feel as confident as you could! Good oral hygiene and looking after your teeth and general oral health may be neglected until there are problems, and at that stage, it is often too late. 

Many people don’t know how to brush and floss their teeth correctly or how often to visit the dentist for routine cleaning and checkups. Research has shown dental implants can enhance oral health. If you are unhappy with your smile because of gaps, loose teeth or if you wear dentures, dental implants might be the solution. 

Why Is Oral Health Important? 

You may not be aware of the importance of oral health and the effect on the body when you don’t brush and floss your teeth properly. Your mouth contains approximately 100 million bacteria in every millilitre (small drop) of saliva. This bacteria can cause damage to your teeth and gums. On top of that, poor oral health is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular (heart disease), diabetes, stroke and other infections and diseases. Poor oral health may also lead to a weaker immune system.

Oral Health Basics Care Guide

• Floss twice daily, ensuring you take your time. You can use dental floss, dental tape or individual floss picks
• Brush your teeth daily, preferably using an electric toothbrush 
• Visit a dentist for a checkup and teeth cleaning every six months
• Bleeding, swollen gums or pain should never be ignored. Visit a dentist as soon as symptoms begin
• Do not use temporary filling kits. You risk trapping bacteria, causing your tooth to rot from the inside.

Daily oral care is critical to prevent bacteria from building up. Always brush your teeth twice a day and floss your teeth before you go to bed to remove any food debris from the day. 

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the most advanced way to replace missing teeth. So what are dental implants? Dental implants replace the missing tooth and replace where the tooth’s root was. A titanium screw is placed into the jawbone, and a ceramic crown is attached to replace the tooth. Well-made dental implants will look and work the same as natural teeth. Here are nine benefits of dental implants you may not have thought about.

1. A Healthy Diet Is More Fun

We all know that eating five portions of fruit and veg is good for us, but it can be more difficult when you have missing teeth or wear dentures. You might find it harder to eat fresh fruit or worry about food getting stuck between your teeth. If you avoid certain foods because they are difficult to chew, it can be hard to have fun eating a balanced diet. This is one of the real benefits of dental implants as they work like natural teeth, allowing you to chew normally and eat whatever you want.

2. You Can Speak Better

Speaking confidently and clearly depends on how your tongue and teeth interact. When teeth are missing or misaligned, air can pass between them, and your tongue can not create sounds in the same way. You may also feel embarrassed and try to keep your mouth as close as possible when speaking. Gaps in your teeth or poorly fitting dentures may also cause lisps and other functional speech disorders. Pros of dental implants include resolving problems with speech. When you don’t worry about how you speak, meeting new people and joining in conversations becomes much easier.

3. No More Physical Pain and Discomfort

Dentures can be uncomfortable and cause irritation or pain in the gums and chronic jaw pain. Missing teeth can also trap food and change the way you chew, which can cause discomfort in your mouth and jaw. Dental implants allow you to use all of your teeth and chew evenly, prevent food from becoming trapped and will not irritate gums. If you have active gum disease and want dental implants, you will need to treat this first. However, the sooner you treat gum disease, the sooner any pain will be gone, and you can have dental implants fitted.

4. Stop Premature Ageing

Missing teeth cause shrinking of the jaw bone due to lack of stimulation. When the jaw bone recedes, this causes the lower part of your face to start collapsing, which makes you look older. Skin may also become loose, which can also be very ageing. Dental implants stimulate the jaw bone in the same way as natural teeth, preventing loss of jaw bone and keeping you looking young and healthy. 

5. Visiting the Dentist Is Enjoyable

Feeling anxious and dreading going to the dentist is no fun. Once you find a dentist you like and have dental implants, visiting the dentist can be enjoyable. Well cared for teeth will usually only need a simple clean and with dental implants, you will look forward to maintaining your smile.

6. Boost Confidence 

When you don’t feel comfortable and want to hide your teeth, smiling, speaking or interacting with other people becomes difficult. If you are embarrassed by missing teeth or dentures, you probably won’t feel as confident as you could. You may not apply for the next promotion or go on a date. Regaining a perfect smile with dental implants can change how you feel and give you the confidence boost you have been looking for. 

7. Make Life Easier

Life is challenging enough without worrying about what you eat, needing to cut up food or reapply adhesive to your dentures. Another worry is taking out dentures and bridges at night, especially if you have a new partner who is unaware that you have lost any teeth. Dental implants are permanent, and you will never need to worry about them slipping or a gap making eating difficult again. You never need to worry about someone knowing you are missing any teeth because good dental implants should blend perfectly with natural teeth and are permanent.

8. Keeping Your Teeth Clean Is Effortless

Brushing teeth when there are gaps can feel strange, and flossing can be time-consuming and feel like a real chore. Dental implants make keeping your teeth clean simple. You brush and floss like you would with natural teeth. When you love your smile, you will be more motivated to take care of your oral health.

9. Improve Health and Wellness

Your teeth are more important to your health and wellness than you previously realised. Unfortunately, it can take losing teeth to make you recognise how much your teeth and smile mean to you. Dental implants can give you back your smile and provide you with self-confidence to reach your full potential and love the life you live.

Don’t let embarrassment prevent you from getting the smile you have always wanted. We are here to help you, and we will never lecture you or make you feel bad. Our patients often tell us how much they look forward to seeing us! Whatever your concern, try our free video consultation for dental implants at Smile Stories, and ask about our 0% interest-free payment plans. 

AUTHOR

Dr Gareth Edwards BDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) is a dentist who qualified with honours. Based in the Poole and Bournemouth area, he has a keen interest in teeth straightening and aesthetic dentistry and is a certified Invisalign provider.