Can You Eat Candy When You Have Dental Implants?

One of the biggest benefits associated with dental implants is they are more similar to real teeth than other dental options, such as bridges and crowns. This allows you to eat more of the foods that you like without having to worry about a crown falling out or a bridge coming loose. However, while you can eat more foods with implants, there are still some foods that are off limits.

With Halloween right around the corner, you may have questions about what types of candy you can eat. Here’s what you need to know about candy and your implants.

Can You Eat Candy When You Have Dental Implants?

As a general rule of thumb, yes you can eat Halloween candy if you have dental implants. However, there are some types of candies that you should avoid. One of those types is sticky or chewy candies. This includes candies such as gummy bears or gummy worms, taffy, or caramel. Sticky or chewy candies can stick to your dental implant, and they can be difficult to remove. This can lead to cavities between your natural teeth and the dental implant. The stickiness can also cause your dental implant to wear down faster if these types of candies are consumed regularly.

Another type of candy that you should avoid if you have dental implants is hard candy. This includes candies such as butterscotch discs, jawbreakers, or lollipops. The danger to your implants associated with hard candies comes into play when you bite down on the candy. When you chew the candy, you can actually fracture or crack your implant. While many people think that they will just suck the hard candy and avoid this scenario, there comes a point where you eventually do take a bite, and that’s when problems can occur.

What Other Types of Foods Should You Avoid With Dental Implants?

While many people associate candy with Halloween, there are many other fall treats that you may be looking to enjoy during the Halloween season. If you have implants, you may be wondering what other foods, if any, you should avoid. One of the lesser known foods to avoid is extremely hot drinks. You may wish to indulge in a hot apple cider or cinnamon spice latte, but before you do so, make sure the drink is not overly hot.

Your implant contains metal in it, and it can slightly contract due to hot or cold temperatures surrounding it. The heat can also cause damage to your gum tissue holding the implant in place. Both of these scenarios can ultimately lead to your implant prematurely falling out.

Another fall treat is popcorn. You may enjoy popcorn or caramel corn during the fall. Unfortunately, popcorn can get stuck between the teeth or between your gums and the implant. This can lead to inflammation, which can shorten the life of the implant.

What Should You Do If You Encounter Problems With Your Dental Implants Due to Food?

If you notice that your implant is wiggling or moving in your mouth, if you hear your implant crack or feel it break in your mouth, or if you are experiencing a lot of pain surrounding the implant, you will need to see a dentist who specializes in implants. In some cases, the tooth portion of the implant that sits on the post can be removed and replaced. This is most common if only the tooth cracks, chips or breaks. In other cases, such as a loose or wiggling implant, the entire post may need to come out and the implant may need to be completely replaced. Failure to see a dentist in a timely manner can lead to further problems with your implant, discomfort, or even inflammation or infection.

Conclusion

Here at Dental Brothers, with offices located in Phoenix and Mesa, we specialize in dental implants. If you are trying to decide if you are a candidate for dental implants or you need repairs made to your existing implants, our staff can help you. Call our office today to schedule an appointment and let us help you with your dental implant needs.