Thanksgiving feasts are delicious, but also difficult to eat for people with missing teeth. Now that you have strong, fully functional dental implants, you no longer need to worry about passing up the opportunity for a crunchy slice of pecan pie or festive cranberry walnut salad. When placed properly by an experienced periodontist and cared for adequately, dental implants are strong enough to protect your mouth and gums, even during a Thanksgiving feast.  

The Importance of Adequate Care  


Dental implants are not susceptible to decay, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be brushed and flossed regularly. Without adequate care, implants and the gum tissue around them can become damaged and infection can develop. In some cases, loss of the implant may occur if proper oral hygiene is neglected.  

To protect your investment and continue enjoying the dietary freedom implants offer, make sure you take the following steps:  

• Brush twice daily
• Floss once daily (or more frequently as needed to remove food particles that become lodged between the implants)
• Use mouth rinses as directed by your periodontist to control inflammation
• Schedule regular dental checkups  

You may notice that dental implants and natural teeth should be cared for in the same way. Keep in mind that your periodontist may recommend special toothbrushes, toothpastes, or water-based flossers to keep your implants and the spaces between them as clean as possible.  

With proper care, implants are known to last 25 years or more. This means you can enjoy greater dietary freedom, a rejuvenated smile, and full dental function for Thanksgiving feasts to come as long as you practice good oral hygiene.  

Schedule Your Checkup  


Take good care of your dental implants, and they will continue to protect your mouth for every holiday. To schedule your periodic dental implant checkup with Dr. Keith Chertok, call his periodontal practice in Berkeley, CA today.