Tooth Loss And How A Dentist In Albany, OR Can Help You

“Tooth loss isn’t an aging problem—it often results from poor oral hygiene and food habits. This article takes a look at how to correct this problem.”

There is a common belief that tooth loss results from aging. If that was the case, most people would lose their teeth at a certain age. However, the data tells a different story and we have seen people even in their late 20s and early 30s suffer from tooth loss. Oral health is one of the major factors behind loss of teeth and stats show us that almost 80% of the people tend to have at least one filling before they hit 50. Additionally, nearly 6% of the seniors are left with no natural teeth.
When you notice early signs of tooth loss, you need to immediately visit a dentist. If you’re local, a seasoned dentist in Albany, OR would explain you the reasons behind tooth loss and give you an oral care plan that helps further deterioration of your pearly whites. Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons for tooth loss and how a dentist can help you correct the problem.

• Poor Oral Hygiene – This is by far the greatest driving force behind tooth loss. If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day it can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacterial colonizationcan lead to plaque build up,ultimately resulting in cavities. This in turn destroys supporting tissues and bones leading to tooth loss.
• Poor Diet – Since your kindergarten days you have been taught the importance of a balanced diet. If your diet doesn’t contain adequate amounts of calcium, you might suffer from tooth loss down the road. Also excessive intake of sugary food, carbonated drinks, alcohol and coffee can have adverse effects on your teeth.
• Bruxism – Are you in the habit of tooth grinding? This is also a contributing factor to tooth loss in many cases as it puts extra stress on your teeth and leads to the weakening of the tissues and bones resulting in your teeth breaking off.

Corrective Measures To Tooth Loss
Depending on the gravity of your problem, a good local dentist in Albany Oregon would opt for one of the following corrective measures to help you deal with tooth loss.

• Crowns – If you have a broken or chipped tooth, a dentist would opt for a crown that would be placed over your broken tooth to improve its appearance.
• Dental Bridge – If you have a missing tooth (or a few teeth), your dentist may opt for this restorative technique where a bridge is used to fill in the gap. Since they resemble natural teeth, they seamlessly blend in, giving you a natural look.
• Dental Implants – This is another technique often used by dentists to replace missing teeth. As the name suggests, artificial teeth are implanted into your jawbone using metal anchors. The anchor is then finished with a beautiful bridge or a crown.
• Dentures – Here, a removable plate holding artificial teeth is used to correct partial or complete tooth loss. This is one of the oldest ways of dealing with the problems of tooth loss and gains mechanical support from the gum and your underlying bone.

Tooth loss can affect your appearance and your confidence levels. You need to adopt good oral hygiene and visit a dentist regularly to prevent it from happening to you.

Author’s Bio: Kris Asleson is a highly experienced dentist in Albany, OR and writes regular blogs on dental health. As a leading dentist in Albany Oregon, he is widely respected.