{"id":913,"date":"2026-05-19T23:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/?p=913"},"modified":"2026-05-19T23:53:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:53:11","slug":"lifestyle-changes-dental-implants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/lifestyle-changes-dental-implants\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Lifestyle Changes to Promote Healthy Dental Implants"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Man smiling outside\" class=\"wp-image-914\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4992888417882142;width:297px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Smiling-5-Small-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Since they replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for all sorts of benefits that you can\u2019t find with dentures or dental bridges. An important factor to consider when choosing a tooth replacement option is how long it will last. Read on to learn about the lifespan of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/dental-implants.html\">dental implants<\/a> and some steps you can take to make them last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Do Dental Implants Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental implants are considered to be a permanent tooth replacement option. They can last upwards of three decades or even the rest of your life if you care for them properly. There are multiple factors that can contribute to the life of your dental implants. Here are some of the most prominent ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overall health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gum health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Location<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proper maintenance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Keep Your Dental Implants in Good Condition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many things that can contribute to the life of your dental implants. Here are some steps to take to keep your implants healthy for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Excellent Oral Hygiene:<\/strong> The crown that is attached to your dental implant isn\u2019t susceptible to tooth decay like your natural teeth are, but this doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s okay to neglect your oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing each day is necessary to keep your gums and surrounding teeth in good condition. If you end up with gum disease, you are much more likely to experience a dental implant failure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proper Use:<\/strong> Your dental implants are made to help you chew your food, hold in your saliva, and prevent bone loss. You shouldn\u2019t use them to pop bottles, chew on ice, or bite your nails. You could cause some damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t Smoke:<\/strong> Smoking increases your risk of gum disease, making you much more susceptible to infection and dental implant failure. It is especially important not to smoke during the initial healing period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>See Your Dentist:<\/strong> Continue to see your dentist for routine cleanings and checkups to keep your smile in good condition. This is especially important when you have dental implants. If you have any issues, your dentist will be more likely to catch them early on so they can be restored to health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental implants have many different benefits, but you won\u2019t be able to keep them as long if you aren\u2019t taking the proper steps to care for them. By using the tips above, you can maintain a healthy, complete smile for many years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Smile by Design of Virginia Beach, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/stephanie-l-santos.html\">Dr. Stephanie L. Santos<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/vinita-j-folck.html\">Dr. Vinita J. Folck<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/madison-squire.html\">Dr. Madison A. Squire<\/a> work together to serve patients in the Virginia Beach area. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation, visit their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or call (757) 499-9639.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Since they replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for all sorts of benefits that you can\u2019t find with dentures or dental bridges. An important factor to consider when choosing a tooth replacement option is how long it will last. Read on to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>4 Lifestyle Changes for Dental Implants, Virginia Beach | Smile by Design of Virginia Beach<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You want your dental implants to stay healthy for as long as possible. Here are some steps that you can take to make your dental implants last.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/lifestyle-changes-dental-implants\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4 Lifestyle Changes for Dental Implants, Virginia Beach | Smile by Design of Virginia Beach\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You want your dental implants to stay healthy for as long as possible. 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