Tooth Loss, Why it Happens and How it’s Preventable

It would be great if we could keep our natural teeth our whole lives but unfortunately that’s not always doable for some of us. Tooth loss is more common than we think, whether you have all your teeth missing or single teeth have fallen out due to different circumstances. Missing teeth is seen in a lot of people who don’t bother to get veneers or dental implants but is there a way to prevent tooth loss? There is. But, it requires commitment to make smart choices regarding oral care and diet. Going to the dentist and maintaining a good home routine of brushing and flossing will go a long way to preserve all your teeth.

Why does tooth loss happen?
There can be a few reasons why teeth fall out. Poor oral hygiene and diet are the top reasons. However, trauma can cause single teeth to fall out if hit to hard or illness can cause disease.

It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once. Doing this can stop plaque from building up in your mouth. If left untreated, plaque will eventually cause cavities and inflamed gums which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. This ends with your teeth falling out.

Eating a lot of sugary foods can also lead to single teeth falling out, especially when no brushing takes place immediately after the sugar has been ingested.

How can tooth loss be prevented?
One of the best ways to stop the tooth loss process is to ensure good dental habits of brushing and flossing and seeing your dentist two times a year. If you experience any tooth pain or abnormalities, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your dentist even if it is not time for you bi annual appointment.

Make sure that you ingesting the right amounts of protein, calcium and other nutrients that help your body to function properly. Vitamins and minerals can go a long way to saving the condition of your mouth.

Even if you haven’t had good habits up until now, it’s not to late to start and prevent further damage from happening to your teeth. Even if you only lose a few single teeth, not only will it give you an unhealthy smile but tooth loss could be an indicator of a deeper problem.

Can’t implants simply fix the problem?
Implants, dentures, bridges and other techniques are available if you do experience tooth loss but as you can see above, you don’t just lose your teeth for no reason. There are underlying issues that need to be dealt with if you are losing teeth. Getting false teeth may only be masking the bigger issue.

The problem with not dealing with tooth decay is that the bacteria can be carried by your saliva down into your stomach, liver and kidneys, causing problems there also. So if you have gum disease that is causing single teeth to fall out and you simply replace the teeth without dealing with the disease, eventually all your teeth will fall out and you will begin to have kidney, liver and stomach problems, all of which could have been avoided has the simple gum disease been treated initially.

What if I don’t have dental insurance?
This is a big problem with most people. Any kind of medical care can be very expensive and if you do not have insurance then, well, you need to get it. There are clinics that charge a very reasonable price for check ups and x-rays but if you do need some sort of treatment, that can get very pricey and having insurance will alleviate that burden all together. There are some inexpensive dental plans that will be enough to cover what you need to get done without having to pay a lot out of pocket. Keep in mind, however, that not every plan covers every treatment method but if you are diagnosed before getting insurance, the carrier may not cover your treatment because it will see it as a pre existing condition. Because of this you will want to make sure that the insurance you choose is a well rounded plan that covers at least the majority of each type of treatment.