As we get older, our bodies change in many ways. Our skin gets wrinkled, our hair begins to thin, and our risk factors for tooth loss increase. However, you don’t have to lose teeth as you age. It’s not an inevitable fact of life. Read on to learn more about tooth loss and how to prevent it.
Why Do People Lose Teeth as They Age?
We often associate dentures and dental implants with older adults, and it’s true that wear and tear on our teeth as we age can contribute to tooth loss. Other factors include unhealthy dietary habits, poor oral hygiene, smoking, and dry mouth.
It’s important to keep in mind that some medications can cause dry mouth, and older adults tend to take more prescription medications. Saliva helps to keep your mouth clean and can work to prevent tooth decay, so a dry mouth can lead to problems.
In addition, keeping up with dental checkups can seem like a waste of time in the busy lives of adults. Sometimes, tooth problems go unnoticed until it’s too late to fix them and the tooth must be removed. Your teeth are important to your overall health, and more studies are beginning to show the link between poor oral hygiene and poor overall health, so it’s necessary to keep your oral care in check.
Protect Your Teeth From Tooth Loss
Though it can be hard to protect your mouth from routine wear and tear associated with everyday eating and drinking, you can take some precautions to prevent damage to your teeth.
- The most important thing you can do to prevent tooth loss is to take care of your mouth. Brush twice a day and floss daily, and visit your dentist every six months for a checkup. Dental pain should never be ignored, so make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if you experience tooth or gum pain.
- If you notice dry mouth because of a medication you’re taking, talk to our dentist or oral hygienists in Grosse Pointe to see if there is another treatment option available.
- Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid smoking and sugary snacks. Eat a healthy diet, as there’s a link between type II diabetes and gum disease.
If you’re expecting to lose teeth as you age, now you know it doesn’t have to be so. With regular dental visits, a dentist can spot problems early and can save a tooth before it needs to be removed.
However, if you do lose or chip teeth, we offer a variety of solutions, including dentures, veneers, implants, and bridges.
Fisher Pointe Dental is proud to offer our services to patients of all ages. Contact us today for an appointment.
