8 Factors behind teeth loss
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Permanent teeth erupted after the baby teeth fall out can last forever if you properly take care of them. Losing teeth in adulthood is not a common thing. Space occurs due to lost teeth will affect smile aesthetics. Besides this cosmetic issue, missing teeth reduce the chewing ability and in turn restrict the food items you eat. This in turn, has a negative effect on the intake of nutrients and cause various health disorders.
Many people think that poor oral hygiene and gum diseases are the main reasons for teeth loss. Apart from these, many factors rely on the teeth come out which are never known. Such teeth loss causing elements are briefly explained in this post.
1) Growing old
Tooth loss is common in old people. You might see aged persons with no teeth. We become older each year. With aging, our teeth lose their attachment with the gums and underlying tissues. It weakens the teeth root and pushes the teeth to fall out. It is found that people aged above 35 years will encounter such teeth loss problems.
Researches show that men are highly vulnerable to tooth loss with aging when compared to women.
You cannot do against to be as a male or to reverse aging to prevent missing teeth. All you can do is, take care of the teeth to assure they are germ-free. It will extend the lifetime of your permanent teeth.
2) Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease which weakens the bones present in our body. Bones in the wrist, spine, hip are more prone to this disease. Jaw bone can also be affected with osteoporosis.
When bones present in the jaw s infected, it becomes dense. It makes the teeth lose their support from jaw bone. Similarly, certain medications utilized to treat osteoporosis are also various dental issues like teeth loss.
3) Pregnancy
Hormones like Estrogen and Progesterone which are produced during pregnancy affect the soft and inner regions of the mouth.
The increased level of hormones has an effect on the Periodontium. It is the specialized tissue which surrounds the teeth and has the collection of ligaments that attach a tooth to the underlying jaw bone.
When the periodontium is affected by such hormones or other agents, it will weaken the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
4) Hereditary Problems
Genes also play a dominant role in dental issues. If early tooth loss or problems in the eruption of adult teeth are caused by genetics, it will be hard to treat them. Preferring teeth replacement solutions like dental implants, dental bridges will be helpful to overcome the issue.
5) Teeth Grinding
The practice of grinding teeth during sleep or other emotional cause also ends in losing teeth. The additional pressure applied over the teeth weakens the ligaments which attach the teeth roots and jaw bone.
This habit is powerful to wear down the enamel and makes the teeth sensitive. It pushes the sufferer to adhere veneers over the infected tooth surface.
6) Untreated Tooth Decay
Decayed tooth or tooth with dental caries has to be treated immediately. Otherwise, the infection penetrates to the soft inner layers and accelerates the rate of tooth loss by producing pus in the tooth’s inner pulp. Hence it is better to get dental sealants, dental fillings or other appropriate treatment to avert the progression of decay.
7) Smoking and alcohol consumption
The chemical substances present in cigarettes are not only powerful to discolor and stain the teeth. The toxic substances can reduce the salivary flow and minimize the humidity level in your mouth.
When our mouth becomes dry, oral bacteria take it as a chance to breed and cause various dental issues like tooth decay, gum diseases & others that eventually cause teeth loss.
8) Health disorders
Persons with high blood pressure and diabetes have higher chances of losing their teeth. The relation between blood pressure and its effect on oral health is not identified yet but it ends in making teeth fall out in many people.
Diabetes is linked to various dental disorders like periodontal diseases, dry mouth, etc which all eventually weaken the teeth to come out from the mouth.
Conclusion
The consequences of missing tooth or teeth are worse than you think. If the missing tooth is not replaced for a long time, it will propagate the loss of underlying jaw bone. If you really care your teeth and want to make them durable, then indulge in proper oral care routine and make bi-annual dental visits for a checkup.
