When we’re little, losing our teeth can be an exciting thing. After all, we get a visit from the tooth fairy, a few extra bucks under our pillows, and there’s really nothing cuter than a child missing their two front teeth. But as we get older, missing teeth isn’t so cute anymore, and we go from being excited about losing our teeth to doing everything we can to avoid it. And in recent years, we’ve done a pretty good job. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, more American adults are keeping their teeth longer now than ever before. In order to keep this positive trend going, your dentist in Memphis wants to share with you some of the most common things that cause our teeth to fall out so you can avoid them.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is the main cause of tooth loss among American adults as it accounts for 70% of all tooth loss. Gum disease is often caused by poor oral hygiene and when mouth bacteria aren’t removed regularly. When bacteria are left around, they multiply, flourish, and will start to affect the gums, causing an infection. This infection will deteriorate gum tissue and can even weaken the jaw bone. Gum disease can be treated but it will not resolve on its own. Your dentist in Memphis will need to intervene early to successfully keep gum disease from leading to more severe oral health problems including tooth loss.
Cavities
Even though cavities are incredibly common and they’re usually no big deal, if they’re not treated promptly they can cause a whole heap of problems. Cavities can be caused by any number of things including not brushing your teeth well enough or often enough, eating too many acidic foods or those high in sugar, and those pesky mouth bacteria again. Typically, a small cavity can be treated with a filling from your dentist in Memphis. However, when a cavity becomes too large or too deep into the tooth, you may need a root canal, tooth extraction, or your tooth may fall out on its own.
Tooth Trauma
The two causes of tooth loss we’ve already mentioned have a lot to do with poor oral hygiene. However, tooth loss can occur as a result of an accident or trauma even in those who take excellent care of their teeth. While nobody expects an accident and you can’t prevent them completely, you can at least reduce your risk of a tooth injury by wearing a mouthguard while playing sports, which is when many mouth injuries occur.
Other Health Concerns
Sometimes tooth loss isn’t directly a result of something that happens in the mouth. In fact, there are many oral health concerns that are linked to other problems throughout the whole body. Tooth loss can be one of them. Some ailments that affect oral health can include, but are not limited to:
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Poor Nutrition
- Arthritis
Make sure you share your full health history with your dentist in Memphis so they can cater your treatment and care to your specific needs.
Let’s continue to work together to help more American adults keep their natural teeth longer and perhaps even for a lifetime. Practice good oral hygiene habits at home by brushing and flossing daily, avoid smoking or using tobacco of any kind, and always keep your bi-annual dental visit so we can catch any small problem early and keep your smile full and happy.
