As we get older, there are some essential practices that we let fall on the way. One of them is dental health. According to a report presented by Washington Dental Service Foundation (WSDF), only 75 percent of people older than 60 years have a portion of their original teeth. The remaining 25 percent have either their teeth removed and replaced with artificial ones. It stands to reason that issues such as gingivitis, gum diseases, tooth cavities can cause a significant loss of the natural teeth. Not to mention, potentially dangerous conditions such as diabetes and heart disease occur due to poor dental health. There are many factors that play into one potentially having to have a tooth extracted and replaced by a dental implant. Here are 12 reasons why one would need to get a dental implant.
1. Not Brushing Your Teeth
When you chew and swallow food, some particles remain in the teeth and tongue. If you are not brushing your teeth regularly, these particles may harbor bacteria and form plagues. This can lead to conditions such as gingivitis and tooth cavities. These conditions can cause severe damages to your teeth, leading to extraction and placement of dental implants. It is thus important you get rid of food particles that accumulate in your teeth as soon as possible through regular brushing. Brush every morning after you take your breakfast and after dinner. In order to remove the particles effectively, tilt the brush slight and sweep it across the gum. Brush the inside and outside of each tooth. Also, brush the tongue.
2. Not Flossing
Those who are not flossing regularly risk developing cavities and gingivitis in your teeth. Flossing allows you to prevent plaque buildup in your teeth. There are over 500 bacteria that live in dental plaques. These bacteria can cause gum tissue irritation, making it become inflamed and bleed easily. Another potentially serious risk of failing to floss is that you are likely to get cavities between your teeth. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop to periodontal disease. The bacteria from the periodontal disease can lead to heart and respiratory tract complications. Make sure you floss every day, usually before you go to bed.
3. Letting Cavities Go Unfilled
One of the common reasons for dental implants is letting cavities go unfilled. Tooth cavities often start as small openings between the teeth. With time, these cavities become larger. Big cavities can destroy a good part of the tooth, making it difficult to fill them. If a large part of the tooth is affected, dental crowns or implants might be the only option. Since they don’t cause pain in the beginning, they are usually difficult to detect. It is thus important you visit your dentist on a regular basis for checkups. If the dentists find a cavity he will advise you on the right course of treatment to take.
4. Missing Your Yearly Dentist Checkups
Apart from dental cavities, regular checkups can help discover other dental issues. If you are used to missing your yearly dentist checkups, then you are at risk of developing serious dental problems that can lead to implants. Make sure you get checked every year, even if you feel okay. There are a lot of dental benefits you will get from doing so. Get a dentist who is experienced in offering dental health services. You can ask your primary care physician for possible recommendations. Also, make sure you have a health insurance coverage that covers dental checkups as well as treatments.
5. Drinking Soda
If you have been brushing regularly and observing good dental practices, but you still have a problem, then it could be attributed to drinking soda. When you drink a lot of soda, the sugar in it interacts with the bacteria on your tongue and teeth to form acids. The acids eat away your tooth, causing cavities in the process. With each glass of soda you take, you are causing a damaging reaction that lasts for 30 minutes. So, avoid soda and other sugary drinks. In addition to cavities, the acids erode the tooth enamel.
6. Eating Chewy, Sticky and Gummy Food
Eating chewy, sticky and gummy foods tend to stay on the tooth surface longer than other types of food. This can cause plaque buildup, leading to infections and cavities. If you find yourself eating a lot of dried fruits, gum or trail mix regularly, then make sure you wash them down with water. You can also brush and floss after you eat them. Also, avoid crunchy foods such as potato chips, since they also lead to plaque buildup.
7. Ignoring Your Dental Health
Most people do not take their dental health seriously. If you keep on ignoring your dental health, you risk developing periodontal disease and tooth decay. When left untreated, these conditions can make you lose your teeth. Not to mention, the periodontal disease may increase your risk of developing stroke, dementia and heart disease by 100 percent. So, make sure you observe your dental health. Go for regular checkups, brush and floss regularly and eat the right foods.
8. Natural Tooth Decay
Natural tooth decay occurs when the tooth enamel is damaged. The damage may occur due to hereditary factors as well as some lifestyle choices. For example, if you constantly eat sticky and crunchy foods but fail to brush your teeth, a lot of food particles will accumulate in between and on the surface of your teeth. With time, these particles form plaques. The plaques will harbor a lot of bacteria. You can slow down the progression of tooth decay by brushing twice with fluoride toothpaste and flossing between meals.
9. Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the primary factors that contribute to tooth damage and eventually extraction. It is caused by when the bacteria in the mouth interact with mucus and other particles to cause sticky plaques on the teeth. This causes inflammation of the gums that can progress to the enamel. Common symptoms include swollen or tender gums, loose teeth, persistent bad breath, sharp pain when chewing food and pus surrounding the gums and teeth. You can prevent this disease by brushing and flossing regularly and avoiding foods that are sticky.
10. Tooth or Gum Infections
Tooth or gum infections are common among individuals who don’t observe good dental hygiene. Infections occur as a result of the bacteria that are present between the teeth as well as on the tongue. In severe cases, tooth infections can lead to accelerated tooth decay and onset of periodontal gum disease. This may eventually lead to tooth extraction. To avoid tooth infections, make sure you observe proper dental hygiene.
11. Eating Acidic Foods
Frequently Eating acidic foods frequently damages the enamel, the outermost protective layer of the tooth. There are a lot of foods that fall into this category. They include lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, alcohol, coffee and cranberries. Once the enamel wears out due to acidity, the teeth become discolored and decay in the process. Brushing after every meal can help, but it is generally a good idea to avoid doing so after eating acidic foods. Since acid softens the enamel, brushing will only speed up the damage. There other health benefits you will get from avoiding acidic foods. These include reduced risk of developing stomach ulcers and certain cancers.
12. Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding may seem like a harmless habit. However, it has damaging effects on your dental health. The force the jaw exerts when you are grinding your teeth is 10 times more than the one exerted during normal chewing. During regular chewing, a considerable amount of the force exerted is absorbed by the food, but during teeth grinding, all of this force is exerted on the teeth. This is extremely dangerous since it can damage some of the enamel of the teeth. In severe cases, it can expose the dentin layer, leading to tooth decay and sensitivity. If you grind your teeth as a habit or involuntarily, you need to talk to a doctor to recommend treatment options.
