Are You at Risk for Tooth Loss as You Get Older?
When you think about your oral health, do you have visions of emergency dental extractions, dentures floating in a glass, hours in a dental chair, enduring expensive dental implants, etc.? Although tooth loss is somewhat common, it’s not an inevitable part of the natural aging process.
Many times the loss of a tooth is through our own doing, either from poor oral hygiene, by using them as a tool, or from disease. Your teeth should never be used as a tool for things like removing lids or tearing off tags. Other no-nos include cracking ice cubes or nut shells, chewing on pencils or cutting thread.
Diseases like diabetes, arthritis and hypertension can put you at risk for periodontal disease and tooth loss. Poor nutrition and smoking can also contribute to the health factors that can cause dental problems. It’s also important to have regular, quality dental check-ups if you are pregnant because of changing hormones.
Coming in to the dentist office on a regular basis for cleanings and exams helps to prevent tooth loss. Generally, unless you are told you have periodontal disease, appointments twice a year should do the trick as long as you are receiving a complete evaluation during one of those visits. If you are due for a dental exam and cleaning, call Smile Savers Dentistry in Columbia, MD at 410-730-6460. We are accepting new and emergency dental patients.
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