According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of American adults between the ages of 35 and and 44-years old, 69 percent have lost one or more permanent teeth. Although many people feel ashamed if they lose a tooth, many don’t realize how common this issue is. But the problems don’t stop during middle age. As we age, tooth loss becomes even more common and between the ages of 65 and 74, 26 percent of people have lost all their natural teeth. Many health specialists even list tooth loss as one of the most prevalent and concerning health issues in old age. So what makes tooth decay, tooth loss, and general oral health issues so common? In this blog, we’ll take a look at a look at some of the major culprits as well as what you can do about it.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for a periodontist in Seattle or the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to contact Same-Day Implants.
Natural Tooth Decay
Although there are many preventable risk factors when it comes to tooth loss that we’ll get into shortly, it’s important to note that not all tooth loss is the result of poor oral care habits. Tooth decay and inevitably, tooth loss are the result of aging. Our teeth and gums play a very important role in our general well-being and as we age, their ability to do their job tends to diminish and we become more susceptible to oral health issues. That doesn’t mean that everyone will lose teeth in their old age, but many of us do.
Diet
We tend to think of our own diet as being healthy, but when you take a look at the diet of Americans as a whole, you start to see a lot of problems with the way we eat. When it comes to consumerism, American society is built on immediate satisfaction. Whatever we need is right at our fingertips and that’s no different with unhealthy foods.
The problem with this way of life is that it doesn’t promote great oral health by any stretch of the imagination. What many people don’t realize is that oral health issues don’t usually develop overnight. They’re something that wears down your teeth and gums over a long period of time until you start experiencing pain and inevitably call a dentist or periodontist for help. And one reason why tooth loss is so common is because we don’t ever see our diet as an oral health problem, we see it as an overall health problem.
Be more conscious about the foods you eat and how they impact your oral health. You will thank yourself later in life for this.
Oral Hygiene
There’s no doubt about it, maintaining great oral hygiene practices throughout your whole life is no easy task. And it’s somewhat daunting when you think about how much bacteria has built up in your mouth over the course of your life. Maybe a certain memory comes to mind of a period in your life where oral hygiene wasn’t a huge concern and as a result, you didn’t practice healthy oral hygiene on a daily basis.
Although these mistakes will impact us for the rest of our lives, that doesn’t mean you can’t start to reverse the damage that was done. One of the reasons tooth loss is so common is that people ignore the warning signs and people don’t seek help until their oral health issues have caught up with them and they have a serious issue on their hands. Once you acknowledge that the warning signs start long before tooth or gum pain, you’ll have a better chance of preventing it.
All things considered, there are two main reasons to practice good oral hygiene: to prevent tooth decay and to prevent infection. Although there are many other reasons to brush and floss like preventing bad breath, tooth decay and infection are inevitably what lead to serious oral or systemic health conditions. But preventing tooth loss requires just as much attention on your gums as it does your teeth.
Many of the issues we perceive as tooth problems started in the gums. The reason for that is that our gums are exposed to the most bacteria and if they aren’t able to hold off the bacteria, they will become infected (gingivitis) and that infection will spread to other supporting structures of the teeth. Since your teeth are supported by several different things like your gums, the periodontal ligament, tooth roots, and your jawbone, tooth loss can result from many different conditions.
Contact Same-Day Implants
After taking a look at some of the major causes of tooth loss, it’s not hard to see why so many Americans lose at least one tooth at some point in their lives. Our teeth and gums are constantly exposed to food particles and bacteria that can damage the supporting structures of our teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss.
Here at Same-Day Implants in Seattle, we realize how wide-spread tooth loss is and we don’t want people to feel afraid to seek treatment. In many cases, we are able to perform a same-day implant, allowing you to regain the functionality and appearance of your natural teeth almost immediately. Our oral health experts work hard to create a comfortable atmosphere for you and will work closely with you to ensure your needs are met throughout your entire visit. Contact us today to learn more.
Read part two of this blog to learn more reasons tooth loss is so common.
