For people who haven’t experienced tooth loss, the threat of it may seem more serious to some than to others. That’s because some consider tooth loss an inevitable concern they’ll have to deal with, while others may believe that it could never happen to them. The truth is that losing one or more of your adult teeth isn’t something that occurs naturally. However, it is common, and in some cases, it’s the result of one or more underlying factors being allowed to grow more severe over time.
Direct causes of losing teeth
Some of the most common reasons for experiencing tooth loss involve the direct erosion of your tooth structure, or the tissues and structures that support them. For example, chronic oral health concerns like tooth decay and gum disease can become so severe that tooth loss or extraction becomes inevitable after a certain point. In the case of gum disease, this point may not be obvious, as the disease can erode the gums and jawbone structure that support your teeth roots before the symptoms of this erosion become highly noticeable.
Less direct factors in tooth loss risks
With good hygiene and preventive care, you can prevent the formation of things like tooth decay and gum disease, which result from an excess buildup of plaque and tartar. However, not all cases of tooth loss are that direct, or have single factors behind them that can be easily pinpointed. For instance, underlying oral health and bite conditions can sometimes lead to conditions that make tooth loss inevitable, or make tooth extraction necessary. If your teeth are severely out of alignment, for instance, the imbalanced bite pressure can lead to severe tooth damage, bite malfunctions, and worse tooth misalignment. In severe cases, extracting a tooth might be necessary to successfully address the overall concern.
How to control your risks of tooth loss
Because tooth loss is the result of many different potential factors, both direct and indirect, successfully preventing requires understanding what your specific risk factors are and properly addressing them. For instance, if you’ve already developed tooth decay or gum disease, then treating the condition as soon as possible could help you preserve the rest of your oral health and avoid losing a tooth because of it. The same is true if you experience other oral health concerns, including crooked teeth, chronic teeth-grinding, and more.
Improve your chances of preventing tooth loss
Tooth loss is the result of specific underlying factors, and understanding those factors could help you better determine (and control) your unique risks of losing one or more teeth. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at (641) 628-1121.