How can I prevent tooth loss?

Losing a tooth or teeth can be a traumatic experience that will not only cause pain but also leave you in need of some sort of dental procedure to provide you with replacements so that your mouth can function as normal. All in all it is best to do everything you can to avoid putting your teeth at the risk of falling out.

With the major causes of tooth loss being dental decay and gum disease you should be doing your best to look after your teeth and gums at home. You ought to brush at least twice every day for about three minutes with a brush that has suitable bristle strength. Use a tooth paste fortified with fluoride so that your enamel is being strengthened in the process and you are guarding against future incursions by plaque.

Flossing is important too as plaque can easily build up in the parts of your mouth that your brushing cannot reach. How well you floss has important implications for the health of your gums too. A build up of plaque on the gum line of teeth can lead to gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss.

Another cause of tooth loss is accidents which affect the mouth. Unfortunately some of these are simply unavoidable and difficult to guard against, such is life. But if you know that you have a leisure activity which might put your mouth at risk, it is best that you take precautions to protect your mouth. Physical sports such as rugby, American football, lacrosse and hockey, among others, can all result in traumas to the mouth and it is advisable that you wear a mouth guard when you are playing them. These can be bought from sports retailers but you are better off having one made especially by your dentist.

Your general health will affect how likely you are to lose teeth. If your immune system is weak because of unhealthy living then your mouth will be less able to look after itself by producing saliva, for example. Specifically the practice of smoking tobacco can be harmful for your teeth because it restricts the ability of your mouth to make saliva, thus leaving the enamel on your teeth more open to attack from plaque.

Of course the main thing to remember is to visit your dentist every six months to allow your mouth to be examined by a trained expert. Any problems which are threatening to develop can be diagnosed early and you are greatly reducing your chances of suffering from tooth loss. If you become worried about an issue with your mouth at a time outside of your cycle of six monthly visits to the dentist, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with your dentist; it is always better to be safe than sorry.