Factors That Put You At Risk Of Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is usually blamed on such maladies as gum (periodontal) disease and tooth decay. But there are a number of other reasons why teeth crack and break or simply fall out. One of the main reasons is that many individuals neglect their teeth and fail to realize the importance of good dental care and proper oral hygiene habits. The reality is that tooth loss can, to a certain degree, be prevented.

Obviously, you have to take care of your teeth at home and visit your dentist two times a year. Unfortunately, there are those individuals who practice proper dental and oral hygiene habits but are still at risk for tooth loss. According to the “Journal of Periodontology”, gum or periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss today. However there are a number of risk factors involved including:

• being 35 years of age or older
• being a current or past smoker
• being diabetic
• being hypertensive (high blood pressure)
• being male
• having rheumatoid arthritis
• higher risk of losing one’s front teeth than back teeth
• never brushing and flossing your teeth
• never going to the dentist on a regular basis

It stands to reason that older, unhealthy males who are smokers and neglect caring for their teeth are at the greatest risk of losing teeth. There are certain risk factors that cannot be controlled such as your age and gender. But there are other factors that are within your control such as whether or not you practice proper oral hygiene at home (i.e. brushing and flossing your teeth) and whether or not you smoke.

Our dentists will tell you that gum or periodontal disease is still the leading cause of tooth loss today. However, you need to be aware of the consequences that result when your teeth are not properly cared for at home and by your dentist. For instance, 40% of all dental patients who are now being treated today had never gone to the dentist before. Even more astonishing is the fact that 60% of them had rarely brushed and flossed their teeth (if at all).

At Stoney Brook Family Dentistry, our dentists are committed to providing families and individuals the type of compassionate and high-quality dental care that they deserve. If you would like more information about tooth loss as well as the many dental services that we provide, we encourage you to contact us today and talk with one of our staff members. They will be happy to answer your questions and schedule and appointment for you if necessary.