Century Dental offers the best general dentistry care in New Jersey. With offices in Eatontown and Jackson, we are better able to meet your schedule and serve you closer to where you live. We also offer the best cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry practices. We are passionate about helping you maintain and keep your teeth for a lifetime.
Century Dental mentions this because not all that long ago, losing your teeth as you age was something that was just accepted. With not that many people living past age 50, it wasn’t all that important when you were just trying to find food to eat in the first place. Now, preventing tooth loss is a priority we take seriously. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the risks you face as you age for tooth loss and action steps you can take to prevent tooth loss as you age. Contact us today for your next dental exam!
CAUSES OF TOOTH LOSS
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection that causes damage to areas around your teeth, which would include gingivitis. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque, which is that sticky substance that dentists clean off your teeth every six months or so at your general dentistry exam. Your gums can become swollen and then your teeth loosen. As you age, the risk for periodontal disease increases.
Poor Nutrition
Consuming a lot of sugary foods is harmful to your teeth. Bacteria love sugar, so the more sugar you eat, the more bacteria you grow and your body has to fight off. Bacteria love to attack your teeth, so this can lead to tooth loss. Furthermore, the lack of proper vitamins and minerals can lead to tooth loss as well, since healthy cells need vitamins and minerals to stay strong.
Not Brushing
Century Dental notes that it only takes four minutes a day (two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night) to brush your teeth. Yet, you would be surprised at the sheer number of people who simply don’t brush. Think of all the time you spend on an electronic device and now think of the pain of losing a tooth. If you add in flossing, you might be adding an additional two minutes total (one in the morning and one at night). This is not a lot of time to spend to prevent something you cannot replace.
Smoking
Those who smoke are twice as likely to lose teeth. This is because nicotine damages cells all throughout your body, including the cells of your mouth and teeth, which then loosens the teeth.
Sports
Sports is a huge factor in tooth loss because it can be easy to knock a tooth out, especially with contact sports. The biggest culprits are hockey, football, basketball, soccer, martial arts, and boxing. However, when you play any sports, a mouthguard is essential wear in order to protect your teeth.
RISK FACTORS OF TOOTH LOSS
- Older than 35
- Male
- Never seeing a dentist or discontinuing seeing a dentist, which older people on a fixed income tend to do
- Not brushing
- Smoking
- Diabetic
- High blood pressure
- Having arthritis
HOW TO PREVENT TOOTH LOSS
Century Dental mentioned a few ways to prevent tooth loss. However, the biggest are listed below:
- Daily care of your teeth
- Regular dental check ups
- Refrain from or give up smoking
- See your dentist if you do have a loose tooth
HOW CENTURY DENTAL HELPS WITH ALL YOUR DENTIST NEEDS
The Century Dental family is passionate about helping you keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime. Gone are the days where tooth loss was as inevitable as wrinkles. Nowadays, most people can keep their teeth their entire lives with the dental care measures mentioned above.
If you do need a tooth replacement, Century Dental can help. We offer restorative dentistry, which is restoring your teeth to new again. Restorative dentistry includes crowns, dental sealants, veneers, dentures, fillings, and root canals. Any of our local dentists at our two offices in Eatontown or Jackson can get you taken care of for any of these dental services. In addition, we offer teeth whitening, regular check-ups, periodontal care, and so much more. Our friendly staff is always available to answer any questions you might need. We are known for our exceptional dental care, which we extend to you. Contact our dentist’s office for your next exam today!
