Missing teeth can introduce a number of problems to your oral health. You might struggle to chew, bite, and speak like you normally do. You may feel unhappy about gaps in your smile, and you could face a risk of further dental damage.
Your dentist can help you replace missing teeth to amend these concerns. But ideally, you should preserve the full structure of your natural teeth for as long as you can.
Maintaining your oral health will mean that you need to take action when it comes to your smile. Check out three steps you should consider that can lower your risk of losing one or more teeth when you read on.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Most people will lose a tooth due to severe dental problems like advanced tooth decay or gum disease. In these cases, the gum tissue and dental structure deteriorate to the extent that the teeth can fall out of their sockets.
If you want to avoid this scenario, you will need to make an effort to prevent these oral health issues. This means removing plaque and other harmful residues that can worsen bacterial spread.
Your mouth naturally contains bacteria. But excess bacteria will eat away at your teeth and infect your gums if left on your smile. This is why you need to get rid of it in a timely fashion with consistent oral hygiene.
Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, mornings and evenings, and floss each day. Consider using other oral hygiene products like mouthwash to further boost oral cleanliness and at-home preventive care.
Visit Your Dentist for Routine Care
Brushing your teeth and flossing on your own is crucial to remove everyday plaque build-up. But your toothbrush and floss can miss some of the plaque and other residues that can collect on your teeth. To ensure your smile stays thoroughly clean, you should attend regular check-ups at your dentist’s office.
During these appointments, your dentist will perform a professional teeth cleaning, which can target stubborn plaque and tartar build-up on your smile. The dentist will also conduct an oral exam that will check for signs of cavities and other dental concerns.
Dr. Chavala Harris, a dentist assisting patients in Durham, NC, can then treat any issues in your smile swiftly before they progress and lead to enough dental damage to cause tooth loss. Most dental patients will need to attend two of these check-ups per year, so schedule your dental appointment today.
React Swiftly During a Dental Emergency
You may lose a tooth for an acute reason, such as knocking it out due to an accidental blow to the face. If this occurs, you have a brief window where a dentist might be able to restore it back in your smile. Success will require urgent treatment, so make sure you contact your dentist right away, within an hour of the accident, if this happens.
Bring your knocked-out tooth with you to an emergency dental appointment. Handle the tooth with care during this period to avoid damaging the tooth even further.