Adult Tooth Loss is Common: Here's How to Avoid It

Although tooth loss in adults has declined since the early 1970s, it’s still too common in the United States. On average, women and men aged 20-64 have only 25.5 teeth, rather than 32 or, if you’ve had wisdom teeth extracted, 28. Even more disturbing, 2.2% of the 20-64 age group have no teeth left.

The worst thing about tooth loss is that, in most cases, it’s avoidable and preventable. And when it does occur, it can affect all kinds of problems in your life, including:

• Lack of confidence
• Imbalances in your jaw
• Difficulty chewing
• Impaired nutrition
• Jaw pain
• Further tooth loss

At Miracle Smile Dental in Aubrey, Texas, our team, led by expert dentist Nisha Modi, DMD, offers preventive dentistry services to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. We also are available for dental emergencies so we can save an endangered tooth when possible.

Do you want to keep your teeth and your health? Adopt the following practices today to improve your chances of healthy teeth and gums that last a lifetime.

Stop smoking

Cigarette smoking stains your teeth. But it also weakens them, making them susceptible to cavities and infection.

In addition, smoking dehydrates your body, including the gums that keep your teeth in their sockets. When your gums aren’t healthy, they can’t keep your teeth stable. Current smokers are three times more likely to lose all their teeth than nonsmokers. 

It’s never too late to quit. Former smokers keep more teeth than current smokers (i.e., 25.1 teeth vs. 23.3 teeth). Even if you’ve already lost all or most of your teeth, quitting smoking helps revive gum health, making dentures or implants more successful.

Switch to whole foods

Your diet affects your health, including the health of your gums and teeth. Ultra-processed foods can cause cavities in children. Their high sugar and acid content hurt adult teeth, too. The American Dental Association recommends diets that:

• Avoid sugars
• Avoid processed foods and starches
• Avoid acidic foods and beverages
• Emphasize a whole-foods, balanced diet
• Avoid snacking

Eating a diet rich in vegetables and protein but low in sugars helps protect your teeth and your health. A healthy diet staves off conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are associated with accelerated tooth loss.

Concentrate on a balanced diet of whole foods. Don’t graze or snack throughout the day, which exposes your teeth and gums to a constant assault of sugars, acid, and bacteria. After eating or drinking, rinse or brush your teeth.

Brush and floss daily

Every time you eat (or sleep), your teeth become coated with a sticky, bacteria-rich film called plaque. Plaque holds bacteria and dietary sugars and acids close to your teeth, where they can eventually erode the enamel, causing cavities.

Remove plaque every morning when you awaken. Remove plaque and food particles every night before you sleep. If possible, also brush or rinse after every meal. For best results:

• Floss before brushing
• Use a soft-bristled brush
• Use an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste
• Brush for at least two minutes
• Sweep, don’t scrub your teeth

If you’re unsure how to brush and floss properly, just let us know. We’re happy to help you adopt good oral health habits.

Be prepared for dental emergencies

Even when you have excellent oral health habits and a tooth-healthy diet, dental emergencies happen. Be prepared so you know what to do if a tooth gets knocked out or broken or if an oral appliance is damaged. The following guidelines can help in these situations:

• Get to the dentist within 30-60 minutes
• Do not touch a knocked-out tooth by the root
• Rinse it in cool water only, if necessary
• Try to keep it in your mouth, in its socket, if possible
• Or, keep the tooth in your mouth between the gums and cheek
• Or, keep the tooth in a jar or glass of milk or saliva
• Bite on gauze to stop bleeding
• Hold a broken jaw shut with a bandana around your head

Never put a knocked-out tooth in water. Be sure to put our number — 469-765-3567 — into your phone so that you can let us know you’re coming in with an emergency.

See your dentist at least twice a year

At Miracle Smile Dental, we make sure your teeth are healthy by conducting in-depth bi-annual exams, bi-annual cleanings, and annual X-rays. We catch problems in their earliest stages so you can keep your teeth healthy and in your mouth where they belong.

Remember to use your dental benefits before you lose them at the end of the year! To schedule your next dental cleaning and exam, call our team today at 469-765-3567 or use our convenient online scheduling tool.