Ways to Help Avoid Tooth Loss

Tooth Loss can be associated as something that just happens with age, but there are other contributing factors as well. Lack of care or trauma related accidents can result in tooth loss. Some of these cannot be controlled; however there are certain steps that everyone can control to reduce the probability of becoming all gums and no bones.

Watch what you eat

Research has shown that there is a significant link between people who have diabetes and tooth loss.  It is theorized that high blood sugar disrupts the delivery of nutrients and waste removal which over time will result in tooth loss.  Everything in the human body is related so staying a healthy weight can help protect your teeth.  The next time you consider ‘oh just one more donut’ think again.

Dentistry required

Some of the most common reasons for tooth loss are results of the simplest mistakes.  A large percentage of people who experience tooth loss had just never received proper professional maintenance.  Without proper insurance this can be a bit harder to maintain, but otherwise there is no good excuse not to let the dentist help you.

Keeping the recommended two appointments a year with a dental provider can greatly reduce the risk of future tooth loss and other dental problems.

Brushing

Another easy step within everyone’s control is to brush those pearly whites.  More than half the patients suffering from tooth loss reported to never or only occasionally brushing their teeth.

Not only is this the easiest solution to the problem, but I’m sure other people will appreciate minty breath verses what you ate for breakfast all week.  If brushing isn’t a habit now then it will require some effort up front, but soon it will become like riding a bike, natural.

Cosmetic Dentistry, AZ

If all else fails there are great dentists who offer dental procedures like dental implants.  Cosmetic dentistry is a solution to tooth loss that no one will even notice.

Overall the steps to preventing tooth loss are simple and not very hard to remember. Why not keep flashing that smile for many more years.

Contact Dr. Kevin Gasser

Gasser Dental Implant Center is located in Sun City, Arizona, just east of Boswell Hospital.

Kevin L. Gasser, D.D.S.

13000 N. 103rd Avenue, Ste. 76,

Sun City, AZ 85351

Phone: (623) 972-8217

Fax: (623) 972-1406

Sun City Dental News: Surprising Facts about Your Toothbrush, PART 2

This two-part article series explores a host of surprising facts you probably didn't know about your toothbrush and it’s importance to the maintenance of smile health.

Welcome to the second installment of this article series on the advice Sun City dental healthcare practitioners have for us regarding the maintenance and usage of that essential cleaning implement: the toothbrush. In Part 1, we looked at the following important facts:

1. You should brush your teeth for two minutes at a time.
2. Those special toothbrush storage caps actually foster an environment conducive to bacterial growth.
3. Never store your toothbrush within 6 feet of a flushing toilet.
4. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles become frayed.

We still have a few more facts to cover, so let’s get started...

5. The state of your toothbrush bristles says quite a bit about how you brush your teeth.

Take a look at your toothbrush. Are the bristles straight or are they slightly bent and frayed? It’s totally normal for this to happen with time and wear, but if your toothbrush starts looking disheveled within a few weeks of using it, you may be brushing way too hard!

“Keep an eye on the state of your toothbrush’s bristles and when they start looking the worse for wear, get a new toothbrush. If they get frayed quickly, lessen up on the pressure,” advise cosmetic dentistry practitioners in AZ.

6. Your toothbrush could be making you sick!

If you don’t store your toothbrush properly, allow it to dry between uses or replace it frequently enough, it could very well be making you sick,” warn Sun City dental healthcare professionals. “Even if you rinse your toothbrush after using it - and you should - bacteria and food debris will get left behind. By allowing your toothbrush to wallow in a puddle of water instead of drying properly between uses, bacteria are encouraged to proliferate in the bristles of your toothbrush. Additionally, leaving it out and exposed to the air in your bathroom, especially there’s a flushing toilet in the same room, could allow harmful pathogens to settle on your toothbrush.”

You should also replace your toothbrush after any viral infection, such as influenza, or you could risk re-infecting yourself.

7. Scrubbing hard doesn't clean better!

“Many people make the mistake of pushing down too hard when they brush,” say Sun City dental professionals. “They think that the more vigorous they are, the better or more efficiently they’ll clean their teeth, but this kind of aggressive brushing can actually do terrible damage to your teeth. Not only does it irritate the gums, causing them to become inflamed, but it can also erode away the protective dental enamel covering your teeth. This causes the softer and more yellow dentine to become exposed, which makes your smile appear dulled and can leave you more vulnerable to cavities and tooth sensitivity.”

The bristles of your toothbrush will provide a good gauge of whether you are brushing too hard or not. If they are terribly frayed and/or become frayed quickly after purchase, then you are likely pushing down too hard. “Ease up on the pressure,” advise cosmetic dentistry practitioners in AZ.

In Conclusion...

Frequent and thorough brushing is absolutely essential to the maintenance of good oral health. By adhering to the advice provided by Sun City dental professionals in this two-part article series, and by reassessing your brushing habits, you can make the necessary changes to get the very most out of those few minutes you spend caring for your teeth every day.