The good news about tooth loss is that, despite it being common, most of the causes behind it are highly preventable. They’re also highly treatable, which means you have time to address them before they become severe enough to lead to tooth loss. However, not everyone recognizes when their risks of losing one or more teeth have risen, or what to do to protect their smiles and prevent the loss of their teeth. Today, we take a look at how you can boost your chances of avoiding tooth loss, and how to preserve your smile more effectively if you do experience it.
Taking care of your teeth
The most important step to preventing tooth loss is to take consistently good care of your teeth by practicing good dental hygiene every day. The threat of harmful oral bacteria is a consistent one, and the plaque that they form can lead to many of the causes that eventually lead to tooth loss (including gum disease). By keeping your teeth clean of these bacteria and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings, you have a better chance of preventing the development of a chronic oral health concern and the heightened risks of tooth loss that come with it.
Addressing tooth loss risk factors
If you already have an existing oral health concern, then it may already be influencing your risks of tooth loss. For instance, gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss, may not seem as severe at first. Patients can easily overlook the slight redness in their gums, or procrastinate to treat gum disease because they don’t notice any severe symptoms right away. This can give the disease enough time to cause significant damage to your gum tissues and the bone structures that support your teeth roots. The sooner you address gum disease, or any existing oral health concern, the better you can preserve your smile and prevent the loss of your natural tooth structure.
Restoring your smile after tooth loss
If you do experience tooth loss, then the loss of your natural tooth or teeth can be the biggest risk factor in your chances of losing more in the future. Losing a tooth leads to several detrimental affects to your oral health, including the weakening of your jawbone structure and other teeth being compromised. You can lower these risks by replacing your lost teeth with a highly lifelike replacement, preferably one supported by a series of dental implants that replace your lost teeth roots, as well.
Learn more about dealing with tooth loss
Most of the causes of tooth loss are preventable, and you can preserve your smile more effectively if you experience it by replacing your lost teeth with dental implants. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.