Losing your permanent teeth is no laughing matter. Premature tooth loss can lead to dietary problems due to your inability to chew food properly. It can also lead to diminished self-esteem. Not only that, but premature tooth loss can also lead to bone loss in your jaw. Unfortunately, once bone loss becomes severe, your remaining teeth will begin to shift, and your jaw will not close properly. You can prevent these problems by choosing to have someone from a place like Pinon Hills Dental install implants for your replacement. Unlike dentures, your implants are permanent, which means they'll look, act, and feel like your natural teeth. However, if not properly cared for, you can develop an infection, known as peri-implantitis, around the implants. This infection can cause serious health problems, lead to increased bone loss, and result in the failure of your implants. Luckily, peri-implantitis can be avoided. Here are four steps you should take to keep your implants healthy, and prevent peri-implantitis.

Focus on Your Health

You might not think that your overall health would have anything to do with the health of your dental implants, but it does. In fact, diabetes, osteoporosis, and immune problems, can all cause problems with your implants, and can increase the likelihood of infection. To prevent implant problems, and peri-implantitis, focus on your health. See your doctor for routine checkups. If you have diabetes, try to keep it under control. If you have osteoporosis, be sure to continue taking your calcium supplements. Talk to your doctor, and your dentist about ways you can improve your health, to protect your implants.

Be Diligent About Fighting Off Gum Disease

Now that you have dental implants, it's even more important that you remain diligent about your dental hygiene, especially if your tooth loss was associated with periodontitis. You might not realize this, but you're not immune to gum disease just because you now have implants. Poor dental hygiene can still cause gum disease, which can increase your risk of developing peri-implantitis. Always be sure to brush and floss your teeth no less than twice a day, and rinse with an anti-bacterial mouthwash. If you notice a foul odor coming from your mouth, or see discharge around the base of your implants, contact your dentist immediately.

Avoid All Tobacco Use

If you quit smoking prior to your implant surgery, don't start back up. If you didn't stop prior to the procedure, now's the time to start a smoking-cessation program. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do when you have dental implants. It slows down your blood circulation, and decreases your body's ability to fight off infections. Unfortunately, that means you'll have an increased risk of developing peri-implantitis, and a reduced ability to fight off the infection.