Though not everyone fully realizes it, tooth loss is highly preventable. With the right care and maintenance, and with regular care from their dentists, most people have an excellent chance of avoiding the loss of an adult tooth. In fact, most dental health care treatments focus on addressing oral concerns as conservatively as possible to improve your chances of preserving more healthy, natural tooth structure. Today, we examine a few steps you can take to prevent tooth loss more effectively, and what to do if you notice signs of trouble that could lead to it later.
Brush up on dental hygiene skills
Your dental hygiene skills are the foundation of your good oral health. These skills include more than just knowing how to brush and floss your teeth, but also having the discipline to brush at least twice and floss at least once a day, every day. This is the only way to effectively control the buildup of harmful oral bacteria on your teeth and gums, which can lead to many of the problems that eventually cause tooth loss. That includes gum disease, which is the most frequent reason for people to experience adult tooth loss.
Take good care of your restoration
While good dental hygiene and preventive care can help you avoid a lot of dental health problems, there may be instances when tooth decay, gum disease, tooth damage, or another concern requires more direct treatment from your dentist. Fortunately, the right restoration can help you address most tooth concerns in a way that helps you preserve the rest of its healthy, natural structure for life. However, if the restoration fails, then your risks of losing the tooth in the future will skyrocket. The best way to bring your risks back down to manageable levels is to have the tooth retreated to restore and protect it as soon as possible.
Pay close attention to warning signs
When you take good care of your smile on a consistent basis, particularly in your dental hygiene routine, the goal is to prevent trouble from occurring and potentially leading to tooth loss. However, preventive dental measures aren’t a guarantee, and consistently good care can also improve your chances of detecting a problem early if one does develop. For example, you may notice changes to the appearance of your teeth and/or gum tissues, sensitivity in or around your teeth, discoloration in your tooth structure, or more. These signs may indicate the beginnings of problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and more, and you should seek treatment as soon as possible if you notice any of them.
Learn how you can prevent tooth loss better
With highly attentive and consistent dental hygiene and preventive care, you can significantly improve your chances of preventing tooth loss from ever occurring. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe and all neighboring communities.