Eat Your Favorite Foods Again With Dental Implants

Losing one of your teeth affects both your confidence and oral health. The good news is that our West Michigan dentists will be able to determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants.

Getting a dental implant not only restores the look of your smile, but also the function of your teeth. That means you’ll be able to chew and eat your favorite foods again with confidence.

Here’s what you need to know about eating after your dental implant procedure.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root that supports a crown and fills a gap in your smile.

While dentures are still quite effective, our dentists know that dental implants can benefit some patients far more. Consisting of a titanium rod that bonds with the natural bone in the jaw, a dental implant remains secure and does not slip or shift.

Because the implant is firmly rooted into the jawbone, there’s added stability and no need for adhesives. You can also brush and floss like normal after dental implants as they’re a permanent part of your smile.

How Do Missing Teeth Affect My Diet?

Eating becomes challenging when your teeth are not prepared to chew food adequately.

Badly decayed or missing teeth can also undermine the strength of your bite. This will make it tougher to chew effectively and eventually alter your dietary habits until you are trading in that wonderful steak for a softer, easier to manage food.

But don’t push that steak aside just yet. Dental implants are the best way for you to enjoy all your favorite foods without the risk of them moving at inopportune times.

How Is Eating with Dental Implants Different?

Eating with dental implants is very different from what you may have experienced wearing dentures.

Even the best-fitting dentures tend to slip, especially when you are eating foods that are difficult to chew. Once dentures slip, food can get caught underneath the appliance and irritate your gums. The only way to remove these food particles is to brush or soak your dentures after eating.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are surgically placed in your jawbone by our dentists and can be cleaned like your other teeth. They can also make eating a more delightful experience by protecting your sense of taste as they don’t cover taste buds located on the roof of your mouth much like the plate of upper dentures.

Can I Eat Normally After Getting Dental Implants?

Dental implants can give you back the pleasure of eating those foods you’ve been avoiding. Since dental implants mimic the natural function of teeth, you don’t have to worry about them possibly slipping or falling out. This means you can bite and chew as though you had a full set of natural teeth.

Dental implants can also be shaped and shaded to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth, so you won’t be able to distinguish them from your natural teeth. You will  need to eat soft foods while you recover from the dental implant procedure, however.

That way, your mouth and jaw will have a chance to heal. Stay away from foods that are sticky and/or hard to chew in the meantime. Once you fully recover from the dental implant procedure, you’ll be able to eat whatever you want.

Ask our team of dentists about getting dental implants and begin enjoying all the foods you’ve been missing. After an oral examination, our dental implant dentists will be able to determine whether you’re a candidate for the procedure.

Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants

Our dental implant dentists in West Michigan would love to sit down with you one-on-one to discuss your smile goals and whether this is an option that works for your smile. Call one of our MI Smiles Dental locations today to schedule an appointment!

This blog post has been updated.