While everyone’s specific oral health goals are unique, the ultimate goal of addressing them is usually to help you preserve your healthy, natural smile. That includes preventing the loss of one or more that may have been compromised, which helps you avoid the need to replace them with manmade restorations. At our Santa Rosa, CA, office, we not only provide highly lifelike, implant-supported restorations for rebuilding smiles, but can also help patients better preserve their smiles by offering tips for avoiding further tooth loss.
Take good care of them every day
Taking care of your smile is an everyday process, and most notably includes cleaning your teeth by brushing and flossing them consistently. By brushing your teeth twice and flossing at least once every day, you can keep them clean of the harmful bacteria that lead to conditions like tooth decay and gum disease. These are the most common causes of tooth loss, particularly gum disease, which makes daily hygiene and preventive care the most important part of avoiding tooth loss. Even if you’ve already experienced it, keeping your smile free of chronic dental issues can improve your chances of avoiding a repeat.
Keep their foundations healthy, too
The healthy, natural structures of your teeth can be directly compromised by several factors, including chronic tooth decay and structural damage. However, the reason why gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss is because it directly affects the foundational structures that support your teeth. That includes your gums, or periodontal tissues, as well as healthy jawbone structure underneath them. If gum disease or any other factor impacts the quality of this foundation, then it’s important to take any steps necessary to improve and preserve that foundation. That may mean seeking professional periodontal treatment and/or oral surgery to fortify your jawbone structure.
Replace any lost teeth immediately
If you’ve already lost one or more teeth, it can seem like your fight against tooth loss is over. However, as long as you retain any of your healthy, natural teeth, preserving them should be a top priority. In the case of previous tooth loss, the loss of their roots is the biggest impact on your heightened risks of losing more teeth. Therefore, replacing them with a custom, dental implant-supported restoration, which replaces your lost teeth roots, can be essential in keeping your risks of future tooth loss under control.
Get better at preventing tooth loss
Tooth loss is a big deal, but with the right care and maintenance, you can prevent it from happening to your smile. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.