Losing your teeth can be a sign of old age, or it can be a symptom of a larger oral health issue. Figuring out how people lose teeth – and replace them – can help you gain a better understanding of your own dental needs. Take a look at this quick guide by our dentist Glendora experts and learn how to prevent or replace tooth loss the right way. Let’s start with how people lose teeth.
How People Lose Teeth
Tooth loss can happen for many reasons. While it is sometimes natural as you grow older, often it is a sign that you have experienced some dental trauma. It can also be a symptom of poor dental hygiene or a bad diet.
Let’s look at the most common causes of tooth loss today:
Ignoring dental visits. Take your regularly scheduled dental appointments seriously, as they can be the best preventative measure against tooth loss. By ignoring your oral hygiene, you may be putting your mouth at risk for infection or damage.
Eating hard foods. There’s nothing wrong with adding a little crunch to your meal, but eating really hard things like candy and ice cubes can do a lot of damage to your teeth. Not only is it bad for your teeth, but it also adds sugar to your mouth, which contributes to a buildup of plaque.
Not brushing your teeth. If you have a hard time getting into the habit of brushing and flossing every day, you might be at risk for tooth loss. Speak to your dentist about maintaining daily hygiene so you can avoid tooth loss.
Aging is also a contributor to tooth loss, but that does not mean that you can’t still invest in preventative measures. Knowing how to avoid tooth loss, and how to treat inevitable tooth loss, is the key to a long life of good oral health.
Preventing Tooth Loss
There are several things that you can do to prevent tooth loss. By investing in better oral hygiene, you can start to turn your health around and eliminate the risk of infection. Try to practice daily oral hygiene habits to prevent an unwanted buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth.
Keeping a close eye on your diet can also help prevent the risk of tooth loss. Try to eat less sugar, especially when it comes to candy and soda. Sugar leads to infection, which is the biggest cause of tooth loss. You can change your habits to prevent further tooth loss. But you should also know what to do if tooth loss has already occurred.
Dealing with Tooth Loss
If you have already lost one or more teeth, you are definitely in need of professional dental repair. Living with gaps in your teeth can be dangerous to your health, as it is easier for infection to spread. If you are missing one or more teeth, you can invest in dental restoration procedures to get your mouth back in working order.
Dentures are a viable option for those who do not have a lot of bone mass in their jaw, which typically decreases with age. Those with ample bone mass can speak with our dental implant Glendora experts to learn more about tooth replacement options. As the most successful dental procedure in the industry, dental implants are permanent fixtures that can replace your missing teeth with a new set of strong bones. You can treat them and use them just like real teeth, restoring your mouth back to normal functionality.
Get the Treatment You Need Today!
At Glendora Family Dentistry, we offer tooth replacement procedures to help you prevent or properly treat missing teeth. You can prevent tooth loss by investing in regular cleaning. Also, you can ask about our restorative dental implant procedures to get rid of any gaps you may already have. Get in touch with our friendly team today and schedule your next dental appointment now!
