Hello and welcome to our oral health blog!
Today we want to talk about a tough topic: tooth loss in adults. Based on the current numbers we’ve been seeing, odds are good that someone you know will lose at least one tooth during adulthood. Shocking, right?
Let’s just hope you won’t be the one subjected to that kind of trauma and embarrassment. But if you ever are faced with such a dilemma, you can trust that we’ll be here to take care of you with one of our innovative implant procedures.
As you probably know, at New Albany Implants we have built quite a reputation around our ability to replace lost teeth for the good folks of Southern Indiana, but, as dentists, our preference is always to help you prevent that kind of loss to begin with.
To keep you coasting down the good road, we thought it might be worthwhile to review the most common reasons people lose their permanent teeth, and to help you sidestep these pitfalls.
Keep reading, and after you’ve finished this post, be sure to get in-touch with our team to schedule your next complete examination in New Albany.
Bad Hygiene
If you ignore your oral health needs, you can do some real damage to your smile over time. That said, our friends at the American Dental Association think that just by brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a stretch, you will be doing yourself a big favor. We agree. But brushing is only the beginning.
You will then need to find the floss in order to go after the tartar, plaque, and food particles that like to linger in-between your teeth. Rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash can also add some real benefits.
Being diligent about this kind of stuff will go a long way towards keeping the bacteria, disease and decay that causes tooth loss at bay, which brings us to our next point.
Untreated/Undiagnosed Decay
It should come as no surprise that tooth decay is a big factor behind tooth loss in adults. Obviously, the presence of decay can be related to bad hygiene but it is not always a causal relationship. That is to say, it can happen to the best of us.
Nobody wants a cavity, but most of us will get them at some juncture, even if we are good about brushing, flossing, and the like. The key is to catch them early and stop them in their tracks.
Why? Because a cavity that is given the opportunity to expand will most certainly reach the root of your tooth, where it will, in turn, infect your dental pulp.
What does that have to do with tooth loss? Well, when this happens, rather than a simple filling, you will be looking at a root canal or possibly an extraction just to restore the overall health of your smile. That’s if the tooth doesn’t just rot away on its own.
Periodontal Disease
Gum disease starts out as a condition called gingivitis. The good news is that gingivitis is easily reversed. The bad news is that most non-professionals are unable to self-diagnose this issue and it is more often than not caught at a later stage.
The more that the bacteria responsible for this condition sinks below your gum-line, the more trouble you will have. As gingivitis gives way to full-blown periodontal disease, you will experience inflammation (including bleeding) and a weakening of the soft tissues that provide stability for the roots of your teeth.
After a certain point, your gums and bone simply won’t be able to support your teeth anymore and they will begin to jump ship in large numbers. That’s when you’ll start inquiring about invasive gum disease treatments and dental implant procedures.
Emergency Situations
It can happen fast at the pool, on the highway, even at work. Regardless, when an accident happens, you will need to remain calm and take action.
Sometimes a tooth that has endured trauma can be saved with a crown or other restoration, but don’t count on that. What can you do to prevent that from happening? You can start by taking fewer chances, becoming aware of your surroundings, and having an emergency plan in place (like keeping our number on speed dial).
Keep Your Smile Healthy By Calling Us
As you can see, all of these pitfalls we discussed today can be easily avoided by making a real effort to stay on top of your hygiene at home and then building on your good work by regularly visiting a dentist that you can trust to keep up with your ever-evolving needs.
As such, we hope you have been inspired by today’s post to take the next step. You can get in-touch with our New Albany, Indiana dental office by calling (812) 945-7645 or by contacting us online. We can’t wait to see your smiling face in one of our chairs!