HOW TO PREVENT TOOTH LOSS

• What is Tooth Loss?
• Causes of Tooth Loss?
• Tooth Loss Prevention

Losing your teeth is never a good sign; fortunately, there are measures you can take to ensure you retain more of your natural teeth. Understanding what leads to teeth falling out can help prevent tooth loss in the future so you can showcase a healthier, stronger smile.

What is Tooth Loss?

Baby teeth falling out is normal, but losing adult teeth? Not so much. Tooth decay, injury, and gum disease can all lead to tooth loss, a process where one or more of your teeth come loose and eventually fall out.

Causes of Tooth Loss?

To better prevent tooth loss, it helps to understand what causes it. Some common culprits can be avoided with a proper oral care routine, whereas others require a bit more attention:

• Gum Disease: The most common cause of tooth loss, gum disease can significantly affect your overall oral health. Taking proper measures to ensure your gums stay healthy can help keep gum issues from taking root.
  o Action to take: Brushing twice and flossing once a day is key to maintaining gum health.
• Injury: A chipped or damaged tooth is at risk of falling out when not treated right away. Cracks in the enamel expose the underlying layers of your tooth to decay which can lead to infection and tooth loss.
  o Action to take: See your dentist right away if damage to your teeth occurs, quick treatment is essential in preserving your tooth.
• Dental Caries: A common form of tooth decay, caries are holes that grow larger over time, leading to tooth loss if not treated.
  o Action to take: : Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you notice increased sensitivity and discoloration on a tooth. If your dentist determines that cause to be dental caries, you will need a filling to keep the decay from progressing.

Tooth Loss Prevention

Often tied to tooth loss, periodontal disease occurs when plaque bacteria eat away at your teeth and gum line, it creates gaps which leads to infection. Preventing gum disease can in turn help prevent tooth loss.

To better prevent tooth loss, it helps to understand what causes it. Some common culprits can be avoided with a proper oral care routine, whereas others require a bit more attention:

Making a few upgrades to your oral care routine can help keep your teeth anchored in place and gums healthy:

• Switch to an electric toothbrush: Research¹ shows that using a power brush can help prevent tooth loss and slow the progression of periodontal disease*.
  
  A proper oral care routine of brushing twice and flossing at least once daily can help prevent tooth loss and slow periodontal disease progression. Be sure to keep up with regularly scheduled dental appointments so your oral health stays intact.
• Floss regularly: A proper oral care routine of flossing at least twice a day can better remove plaque to help you maintain a healthy gum line.
  
  A proper oral care routine of brushing twice and flossing at least once daily can help prevent tooth loss and slow periodontal disease progression. Be sure to keep up with regularly scheduled dental appointments so your oral health stays intact.

Sources:

http://www.oralhealthplatform.eu/our-work/the-state-of-oral-health-in-europe/

https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/periodontal-disease

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892

https://www.dentalhealth.org/cracked-teeth

¹Pitchika V, Pink C, Völzke H, Welk A, Kocher T, Holtfreter B. Long-term impact of powered toothbrush on oral health: 11-year cohort study.
J Clin Periodontol. 2019. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13126

*Compared to a manual toothbrush

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