Perhaps the first thing that springs to mind when you hear “tooth loss” is a child carefully tucking a shiny new tooth beneath his pillow in anticipation of a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Of course, tooth loss can happen to anyone at any age, but the causes of tooth loss in adults are typically different from those in children.
While you may believe that brushing your teeth twice a day is all that is necessary to maintain good oral health, the truth is that our teeth are vulnerable to various dangers that could include an injury that goes untreated or even an unhealthy diet.
Adult Tooth Loss Causes
Several decades ago, losing teeth was accepted as a natural part of becoming older. Today, however, there is no reason to be concerned about sudden tooth loss. Losing teeth can happen for a variety of reasons. To maintain good dental health and avoid tooth loss, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that can cause it.
1. Poor Oral Hygiene
Periodontal disease, an inflammatory illness, is a significant cause of tooth loss and shifting. Besides the gums, this also damages the ligaments and bones that bind your teeth in place.
Poor brushing, flossing, and other oral hygiene care are usually to blame for this illness. Signs of periodontal disease include gums that are red or inflamed, easily bleed when brushed, have receded, and cause discomfort when biting down. Untreated, your teeth’s supporting structures, including bone, might be destroyed, resulting in loose or missing teeth. You can check out Strull Oral Surgery homepage for more info about their dental services.
2. Trauma
Traumatic dental injuries and accidents are prominent causes of tooth loss worldwide. Accidental tooth loss can result from various events, including vehicle and bicycle rides, sports accidents, and even simple slips, trips, and falls. Most accidents will only cause minor damage, such as chips or cracks, to teeth, but more serious ones could lead to the complete loss of teeth.
A conscious effort to avoid these situations is usually the key to avoiding the loss of teeth in a traumatic manner. This includes taking precautions like always using a seatbelt and mouth guard when playing contact sports. To address the problem, you can consult an expert in Louisville oral surgery for recommendations and suggestions.
3. Bad Eating Habits
If poor dietary habits go unchecked, they can lead to severe tooth decay, which is a leading cause of tooth loss. Our oral health is affected by everything we eat and drink. High-sugar foods feed harmful oral bacteria, which produce acids that slowly erode tooth enamel. These cavities can reach the deeper layers of your teeth, causing discomfort and tooth loss.
Cavities will worsen if you regularly consume sugary and acidic foods and drinks. A diet modification that includes less sugar and more water, milk, vegetables, and whole grains will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevent cavities.
4. Other Health Issues
Our bodies, general health, and dental health are all interlinked, and often broader health conditions significantly impact the probability of tooth loss. An excellent illustration of this is persons living with type 2 diabetes typically often deal with gum disease, cavities, and other oral health problems.
High blood sugar levels increase the supply of carbohydrates, starches, and the acid that wears away your teeth and gums. Poor general health can create diabetes, which in turn causes teeth gum difficulties and eventual tooth loss. To find more information, you can read blog posts and articles on dental health care and services.
5. Harmful Behaviors
Habits and destructive behaviors can cause tooth loss. Smoking and teeth grinding are familiar instances. Bruxism—teeth grinding, commonly while sleeping—typically doesn’t hurt unless it’s frequent. Grinding can loosen teeth, wear them down, and even cause tooth loss. Due to its semi-conscious nature, teeth grinding can go unnoticed.
Smoking causes long-term tooth loss. Smoking, a primary cause of periodontal disease, and concealing gum bleeding are the reasons behind this. Smokers commonly have undiagnosed severe periodontal disease that causes tooth loss. Smokers can fast improve their dental health and minimize tooth loss by quitting.
