Tooth Loss Can Seriously Affect Your Health
Tooth loss can be devastating, not just for your confidence but for your health as well. Losing a tooth can cause surrounding teeth to shift and bacteria to accumulate under the gum line, resulting in gum disease and loss of bone and tissue. Gum disease has been linked to serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Avoiding tooth loss is always our first goal, but if it’s too late to salvage, UAD offers replacement options for missing teeth, such as dental implants or dentures that look and act more like natural teeth than ever before.
Don’t fret; there are things you can do to keep your teeth healthy and intact! Here are three simple tips to avoid losing your teeth.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your teeth and gums. Brush at least twice per day and floss at least once. Ask your dentist if you should be using a mouthwash or other rinse. Following these simple habits will drastically reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth, which in turn will reduce your chances of developing tooth decay or gum disease. Since these two conditions are among the most common causes of tooth loss, preventing them means you’re less likely to have missing teeth.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Your lifestyle has a greater impact on your oral health than you may realize. To save your teeth, start by examining your diet. Cut out sugary beverages, sticky candies, and acidic sports drinks and sodas. Reach for water more often when you need something to drink, and serve up low-fat dairy and lean protein. Also, smoking and tooth loss are linked, so add that to the list of reasons to quit. Smoking weakens the immune system, so it becomes harder for the body to fight infections. As a result, the bones supporting teeth weaken, causing tooth loss.
See Your Dentist
Visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. During these visits, your dentist will perform a comprehensive exam that can help him or her find oral health problems in their early stages, when they are easier to treat. By getting a diagnosis early, you can get treatment before tooth loss occurs.
Whether you have missing teeth already or want to keep your smile intact, University Associates in Dentistry is here to provide general dentistry, dentures, and dental implants in the Chicago area. To make an appointment with a provider at our award-winning dental group of Chicago, please click here or call (312) 704-5511.
