From steaks and burgers to vegetable skewers and corn on the cob, that charcoal or gas grill can turn out a smokey summer feast for the whole family or the whole block to enjoy. It’s hard to beat and harder to resist.
Unfortunately, missing teeth can make chewing many of these popular summertime foods impractical. Having to miss out on a nice ribeye is a sure way to bum anyone out. Luckily, dental implants can restore normal chewing ability and have you looking forward to barbeques far and wide. Read on to learn more about how dental implants make enjoying all of your favorite summertime meals easy!
How Do Dental Implants Restore Eating Ability?
A dental implant is a small titanium posts that’s surgically placed into the jaw where the root structure of the missing tooth used to be. Through a natural process of osseointegration, the post and the jawbone fuse together, forming a strong bond and a sturdy foundation for an artificial tooth crowning above the gumline. Because the restoration mimics teeth in both appearance and function, they allow the patient to resume eating in ways that were lost with the replaced teeth.
What is Eating with Dental Implants Like?
While dental implants allow normal chewing, they still warrant special care with certain foods.
Hot dogs are great on the grill, but they are heavy with processed saturated fat. This sort of fat can get stuck in the gums, leading to inflammation or gingivitis. Does this mean that you can’t eat hot dogs with dental implants? No! You can enjoy them in moderation.
Corn on the cob is a tasty, sweet, smokey treat, but those kernels have a way of getting stuck between teeth where they can feed the growth of bacteria. You can have grilled corn with dental implants, but it’s better to cut the corn from the cob and eat it from a plate or bowl. It might spare you an embarrassing photo with food in your teeth.
People love sugar, but it breeds bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria in your mouth excrete acid, which is bad for natural teeth and dental implants alike. That’s why it’s best to minimize or avoid altogether soda and other beverages full of sugar and syrup. Also worth noting is that many barbeque sauces are similarly loaded with sugar.
Dental implants are more than just a great way to make life delicious again. They are the most recommended way to replace missing teeth and boast a 90-95% success rate. They resemble natural teeth and can restore a smile to its full glory and can last more than thirty years with proper maintenance. They’re the best way to get your bite back and resume enjoying all of your favorite summertime meals.
About the Practice
Aesthetic & Family Dentistry of Washington provides the finest dental care in the D.C. area. Led by Drs. Yelena Obholz, DDS, Olivia Bassily, DDS, Aimée DeLorenzo, DDS, and Nhu Thuy H. Luong, DDS, the practice specializes in services including dental implants, regular checkups and cleanings, dental restoration, cosmetic dentistry, children’s dentistry, and Invisalign. For more information, contact the office online or at (202) 364-8989.