If you’re happy with your dental implant replacements, you probably want them to last as long as possible. Good oral hygiene is the best way to ensure their longevity and pearly appearance, but there are other things you can do. You could, for example, make strategic food choices to help your body support your implants.
Let’s take advantage of your dental implants’ impressive bite power and go over what an ideal menu would look like!
Bone-Strengthening Foods
Since your implants are anchored to your jawbone, it’s important to promote bone strength and growth. That means shoring up on vitamin D and calcium! Direct sunlight is actually the best source of vitamin D, but you can’t eat that. Here are your more food-centric options:
- Bony and oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and pilchards
- Dairy (that includes all your favorite cheeses)
- Leafy greens like cabbage, broccoli, and kale
- Egg yolks
- Nuts
- Tofu
Once you’re done with your fun in the sun, you can return to the cool indoors and treat yourself to an extra helping of bone-strengthening nutrients!
Immune System Fortifiers
The biggest risk to your dental implants is gum disease. If left untreated, it can spread through your gums and compromise your jawbone. A thorough brushing and flossing routine is the most surefire way to keep this infection far away from your oral tissue, but you can also empower your body’s disease prevention task force: the immune system.
The fish, dairy products, leafy greens, and nuts mentioned above will do wonders for your immune system. For other options, consider these menu items:
- Citrusy fruits – think lemons, oranges, and limes
- Berries (strawberries and blueberries are excellent summertime choices)
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Bell peppers, but specifically the red ones
- Green tea, or teas enhanced with zinc
Research shows that zinc in particular plays a huge role in our immune system’s ability to fight infection. But did you know we absorb less zinc as we age? If you’ve enjoyed more than 60 years of life, keep a close eye on your zinc levels!
Not-So Healthy Options to Avoid
Everyone knows that dentists have a bone to pick with sugary snacks and beverages. Your dental implants might technically be immune to cavities, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook! A sugar-intense diet can still lead to gum disease. Besides this addictive sweetener, you should also avoid overly salty foods, such as chips, pretzels, and cold cut meat.
While your dentist’s specialty is teeth, many aspects of health are interconnected. Oral care is also part of their expertise, so if you’d like to know more about how your diet can affect dental implants and your mouth, go ahead and give them a call!
Questions? We're Here to Help.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Brendan Dolan at Dolan Dental in Wethersfield, CT.