3 Thing You Can Do To Keep Your Teeth
Posted on: 30 December 2015
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Sometimes, negligence leads to a dental extraction or tooth loss. Still, once an adult tooth is gone, it can only be replaced by an implant, bridge or other prosthetic device. If you want to keep your natural teeth, it is best to avoid situations that can lead to their demise. Here are a few things you can do to keep your teeth:
Seek emergency care for a traumatized tooth.
If you incur a chipped, cracked or loosened tooth from trauma, it is best to see a dentist as soon as possible. A delay in professional treatment can sometimes lead to tooth loss.
For instance, a tooth that incurs a small crack may not seem like a dental emergency. However, forgoing treatment can allow the fracture to deepen. Once the crack spreads to the root of the tooth, an extraction is inevitable.
Likewise, a chipped tooth that is not x-rayed to display the extent of the dental trauma can be underestimated. A chip that exposes the interior of a tooth can lead to a severe dental infection. Some infections may be treated with a root canal. However, if the infection spreads to the underlying jawbone, your dentist may recommend tooth removal.
Look for signs of gum disease.
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. It is easy to ignore signs of early gum disease, such as tender or bleeding gums. However, as the symptoms become more severe, pockets form around the gums. These pockets can allow more oral bacteria to reach the bone lying beneath the gums. In addition, as the gums pull away from the teeth, the teeth are not held firmly in place.
Infections at the root of the tooth coupled with the lack of mechanical gum support lead to tooth loss. It is best to have your gums examined by a dentist at the first indication of gum disease so that an effective course of treatment can begin.
Avoid tobacco use.
Tobacco products cause a reduction in blood flow to gum tissues and increase your risk of periodontal disease. In addition, their use is associated with dry mouth, which can increase your likelihood of tooth decay that may cause tooth loss.
Perhaps, most importantly, tobacco use increases your chance of developing oral cancer, which can also cause you to lose your teeth.
If you are concerned about keeping your teeth, be sure to care for them properly at home and visit your dentist regularly. If you have not had a dental appointment in the past six months, contact a dental office in your area today to schedule an appointment.
For a local dentist, contact a doctor such as Dr. Daniel Bade DDS.