The All-on-4® treatment is designed to replace all of your missing teeth with a new smile, giving you the freedom to eat and drink things you like again. However, not all foods and drinks are created equal. While learning how to care for All-on-4® dental implants, you may wonder if certain meals or beverages will affect the functionality and lifespan of your new teeth.
It’s common knowledge that sugar is one of the worst offenders of tooth decay. Growing up, most of us were told that sugar would rot our teeth. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that there’s a direct correlation between the amount of sugar a person consumes and their risk of developing cavities. Your mouth contains a mixture of good and bad bacteria, and sugar gives the harmful bacteria the fuel to produce acid that strips away your teeth’s protective enamel.
All-on-4® is a dental restoration solution that provides a long-term, fixed alternative to dentures. It’s a procedure designed for patients who have lost all or most of their teeth. Patients may enjoy talking, smiling in photographs and eating after All-on-4® with the same ease and comfort as they would with their natural teeth. A procedure pioneered by Dr Paulo Malo, All-on-4® is similar to traditional dental implants with a definitive and advantageous difference: just four dental implants support an entire “bridge” or arch of new teeth.
How All-on-4® Teeth Differ From Natural Teeth
All-on-4® dental implants are different to both traditional dental implants and natural teeth in a variety of positive ways. With the All-on-4® treatment, you never have to wait more than 24 hours after your dental implant surgery to receive your new set of teeth. While traditional dental implants often require dental bone grafting to address any jawbone deterioration, All-on-4® dental implants target the stronger areas of the jawbone instead.
The prosthetic teeth are made of acrylic resin, while the dental implants are titanium. Because they don’t have nerves to provide sensation, All-on-4® dental implants don’t feel heat, cold, or pain like natural teeth.
However, perhaps the most significant difference is that All-on-4® doesn’t decay. Sugar won’t “rot” your All-on-4® teeth in the same way it does your natural teeth.
That doesn’t mean All-on-4® aftercare isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s essential to take care of your All-on-4® teeth as if they were your real teeth, but not for exactly the same reasons. So, how should you care for your new smile, and do you need to cut sugar out of your diet to do so?
The Best Way to Care for Your All-on-4® Teeth and Dental Implants
Since All-on-4® is designed to look and feel like your natural teeth, that is how you’ll look after them. While All-on-4® teeth will never decay, certain foods and drinks can still damage your gums without proper oral care. Acids and artificial colouring can also leave stains over time.
Here is how to care for your new smile in order to make them last for the long haul:
Brush your All-on-4® teeth as though they were your natural teeth. All-on-4® requires an easy and familiar cleaning routine. Brush twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush right up to your gum line. Flossing once a day helps get rid of plaque and tartar, both of which can cause your gums to become swollen and tender—a precursor to gum disease. Finishing with an antibacterial mouthwash adds another layer of protection.
Book regular check-ups and cleans
You need regular check-ups and cleans to keep your natural teeth in good condition, and the same applies to your All-on-4® teeth. Next Smile Australia recommends at least two check-ups and cleans every six months to make sure teeth and dental implants are functioning properly and maintain optimal placement.
Plan for your recovery period
While All-on-4® typically has a shorter recovery period than other dental implants, it still has a recovery period. And during this time, it’s important to be extra careful about what you eat and drink. Drinking hot tea and coffee can burn a mouth that’s still numb from the anaesthetic. Alcohol, soft drinks and other sugary beverages can increase the amount of bacteria in your mouth and affect the stability of your dental implants.
Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of dental implant failure and complications after your surgery. Quitting, ideally, before your treatment, is the best possible course of action.
Follow Next Smile Australia’s aftercare procedure
After your All-on-4® surgery, a member of the Next Smile Australia team will provide you with aftercare instructions for your dental implants. You should follow these clear and straightforward instructions in order to maintain the look and functionality of your new teeth.
Does Sugar Have an Impact on All-on-4®?
The fact that All-on-4® teeth aren’t subject to decay like natural teeth doesn’t mean sugar doesn’t have harmful consequences. Some of the detrimental ways that sugar can affect your All-on-4® teeth include:
Bacteria and plaque
Sugar promotes the growth of bacteria in your mouth, leading to the formation of plaque. If plaque isn’t removed, it can lead to peri-implantitis and potentially even dental implant failure.
Worsening gum health
Sugar can attach itself to the gums around your dental implants, causing inflammation and making them hotspots for bacteria.
Long-term dental implant damage
Sugar can create an acidic environment in your mouth that slowly erodes the components in your dental implants, compromising their stability over the long term. It’s particularly important to avoid sugar during the vulnerable healing and recovery stage of your All-on-4® dental implants.
Overall health
Consuming excess sugar is bad for the body in general. As oral and overall health are connected, this ultimately has a domino effect on dental implants. Diseases like diabetes slow down the body’s ability to fight infections and make post-implant infection more likely. They can also raise the risk of dental implant failure and slow the recovery process down afterwards.
Renew Your Smile at Next Smile Australia
As the pioneers and leading providers of All-on-4® treatment in Australia, Next Smile Australia will provide high-quality All-on-4® treatment in a medically regulated environment, using high-quality materials and surgery.
Most of our All-on-4® surgeries take place at our Super Clinics, which are built to surgery-grade standards so our dedicated team can provide dental implant surgery in a safe and hygienic environment. Our trained and experienced staff will provide you with the best possible care in our purpose-built, hospital-grade surgical rooms. At the same time, our on-site dental facilities (including x-rays and CBCT scanners) will ensure that all of your appointments occur under one roof.
If you’d like to learn more about the All-on-4® treatment, attend an information session or arrange a personal consultation, contact the Next Smile Australia team.