The more you know about your dental health, the more you may realize how simultaneously resilient and vulnerable it is. For instance, permanent teeth that are built to last for life can be lost prematurely if you don’t keep them clean and healthy. The lesson to be learned about tooth loss is that the better you take care of your teeth, the longer they’ll last, and the less trouble they’ll give you in the long-run.
How it Happens
Given its wide-spread occurrence, you might think that preventing tooth loss is a losing battle. If you know someone who’s lost teeth, particularly older members of your family, then you might be especially worried about it affecting your smile in the future. However, tooth loss isn’t an inherited trait (although a propensity for it may be). The most frequent reason behind missing teeth is severe gum disease, which infects the gums and jawbone that support them. Other reasons include extensive tooth decay, traumatic impact, or damage such as cracks and fractures that are too invasive to repair.
How to Prevent It
If you’re anxious about tooth loss, then rest assured that you learned one of the most important ways to prevent it early in childhood—brushing and flossing your teeth every day. By doing so, you can control the mechanisms (i.e., the bacteria in plaque) that are responsible for gum disease and other oral health issues. In addition, be sure to visit your dentist at least once every six months so we can thoroughly clean your teeth, especially around your gums. While you’re here, we’ll also inspect your mouth for signs of dental health issues. If necessary, we can prescribe treatment to prevent such issues from leading to tooth loss.
What to Do When You Lose a Tooth
If you’ve already lost a tooth, or have one or more teeth that must be extracted because they can’t be saved, then we can restore your smile with a customized dental prosthetic. Depending on how many teeth must be replaced, we may recommend a dental bridge, partial denture, or complete denture to reestablish your bite, and your smile’s aesthetic appeal.
ABOUT YOUR GARY, IN DENTIST:
As a native of northwest Indiana, Nicholas Cain, DDS, is dedicated to providing excellent general, preventive, and family dentistry services to the community that raised him. To schedule your appointment, call Healthy Smiles today at 219-938-2637.