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No one wants to lose their teeth. A complete smile helps you eat your favorite foods, speak clearly, and feel confident when you laugh and smile. It also helps you look more professional and speak confidently in professional settings. If you’re looking for a dedicated team to help you prevent tooth loss in Phoenix and Gilbert, Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona is here for you!
While tooth loss becomes more common with age, it is not something you have to accept as inevitable. In fact, most causes of tooth loss can be prevented with healthy habits and regular dental care. Here are eight simple tips to keep your complete smile healthy for life!
1. Brush and Floss Well Every Day
The number one cause of tooth loss is gum disease. Gum disease starts with plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that collects on your teeth, especially along the gum line and between your teeth. If plaque is not removed every 12-24 hours, it starts to absorb minerals from your saliva and harden into tartar.
Plaque and tartar trigger inflammation in the gums, causing them to swell and pull away from the teeth. Left untreated, this can damage the ligaments and even bone sockets that hold your teeth in place.
The good news is that you can remove plaque to fight gum disease in just 6 minutes per day! Here’s how:
- Brush well every morning and every evening.
- Brush for 2 full minutes each time, focusing on the gum line.
- Floss at least once per day for about 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Gently guide the floss below the gum line on each side of each tooth.
Choosing products that can strengthen enamel, such as fluoride toothpaste and rinse, will also reduce your risk for tooth decay, another leading cause of tooth loss. You may also want to consider technology to improve your home care, such as an electric toothbrush or water flosser!
2. Keep Up with Regular Dental Visits
Even with excellent home care, there are places where plaque and tartar can build up. And once tartar forms, it takes professional techniques to remove it safely and completely. That’s one reason why seeing our team for regular dental cleanings in Phoenix and Gilbert is so important.
Professional cleanings are just one part of your routine preventive visits. This is also when your dentist gets a chance to find the first signs of problems like cavities and cracks, which can lead to teeth breaking down completely if they’re not treated early enough.
Preventive dental visits give you the best chance of keeping your dental expenses low and keeping your whole smile healthy for a lifetime. If you already have gum disease, we can help to stop it from progressing!
3. Wear a Guard
Cavities and gum disease are not the only issues that can lead to missing teeth. Injuries and wear over time can also take a major toll on your teeth and gums!
Bruxism is another word for teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which many of us do unconsciously while we’re asleep. Unfortunately, these habits can wear down your enamel and even cause cracks, broken teeth, loose teeth, and other serious issues. Wearing a custom night guard made by your dentist can protect your teeth from damage. In many cases, it can help you sleep better, too!
A sports guard is important for more than just football or hockey. Activities like basketball, soccer, martial arts, and even weightlifting can lead to accidents that chip, crack, or knock out teeth. A custom sports guard from Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona offers the best fit and protection.
4. Protect Your Teeth From Acid
Acid can wear down your enamel and make your teeth weaker, leading to erosion and tooth decay that can eat away at your teeth and make tooth loss more likely. Acid comes from many sources, including:
- Sugary and starchy foods like candy and potato chips
- Acidic and sugary drinks like sports drinks, soda, and kombucha
- Foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vinegar-based dressings
- Acid reflux or frequent vomiting from medical conditions
You can reduce the damage acid does to your teeth by limiting the amount of time your mouth is more acidic. For example, rather than sipping on a sports drink throughout your workout, drink it in one go and then rinse well to cleanse it off your teeth.
However, if your teeth have been exposed to acid, avoid brushing right away. Acid softens your enamel for a short time, and brushing right away can cause more damage. Instead, rinse well with water, swish with mouth rinse, or chew sugar-free gum to help neutralize acids. Wait at least 20 minutes before brushing!
5. Limit (or Quit) Smoking, Vaping, and Tobacco
Smoking and other tobacco use are major risk factors for gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss. Nicotine from any source reduces blood flow to your gums, damaging their ability to hold your teeth and making it harder for your mouth to fight infection and heal.
Vaping and marijuana use can also increase your risk for gum problems and dry mouth. Quitting or cutting back on these habits will not only protect your smile but also improve your overall health.
If you need help quitting smoking in Arizona, we can help! We can offer helpful guidance or connect you with resources like Arizona Department of Health’s ASHLine.
6. Try to Get Care for Medical Issues
Your dental health and your overall health are connected. Some medical conditions can raise your risk for tooth loss. For example, diabetes can make gum disease harder to control and increase your risk for cavities. And we’ve already seen how reflux conditions like GERD can damage your teeth.
Some medications can also cause dry mouth (which increases cavity risks) or increase bruxism. This is why it’s so important to let your dentist know about any health conditions or medications you take. We can help you create a plan to protect your teeth, such as using special mouth rinses or saliva substitutes.
7. Know What to Do in an Emergency
Quick action can sometimes save a tooth that has been injured or knocked out. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, gently rinse it with water, holding it by the crown (the top part, not the root). Store it in saliva or milk and get to the dentist immediately.
Responding promptly to other dental emergencies, like sudden toothaches or signs of an abscess, can also make all the difference between losing and keeping a tooth. Remember, if you’re ever in doubt, get in touch with our team for emergency dentistry in Phoenix and Gilbert!
8. Complete Recommended Treatments Promptly
We understand that it can be hard to fit dental treatment into your budget or schedule. But delaying needed care can allow problems to get worse. A small cavity can usually be fixed with a filling. If it is left untreated, it may require a root canal or even extraction.
Completing recommended treatments promptly can prevent more serious problems and help you keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.
We’re Here to Help You Keep Your Smile Complete!
Even with the best care, sometimes tooth loss still happens. If you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, we can help restore your comfort, function, and confidence with options like dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
Whether you are looking for ways to protect your teeth or need to replace missing teeth in Phoenix or Gilbert, our team is here for you. We want you to enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for life!
