For many people, making regular dental appoints and brushing after every meal can be considered an inconvenient hassle. Especially if their parents and grandparents all had dentures before they were in their forties, it might seem easier to get them removed before they become painful and get used to a life of false teeth sooner than later. In reality, though, the benefits of taking care of your natural smile far outweigh the convenience of carrying around a set of prosthetics in your mouth. Here at Olympia Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry, we know that nothing is better than your natural tooth and if at all possible, we would always rather save it than remove it.
HAVING A HEALTHY SMILE
Especially since dentistry is a fairly young field, recent developments in the technology available have revolutionized how we can care for our teeth now. In the day, maybe a grass straw and some baking soda was the best way to keep your mouth clean, and while it is still more effective than no treatment at all, there has been a flood of new tools designed to make it easier for you to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
It is recommended that you should brush twice a day, once after breakfast and once before you go to bed, and others argue that you should brush after every meal and every time your teeth feel grimy. While this is good advice, you are your own best judge. It makes sense to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove residue as the first thing and the last thing you do every day, but that does not mean that is the only time bacteria may attack your teeth.
If you feel a strange texture when you run your tongue against your teeth, it may be a good idea to brush. The fuzz is left behind from bacteria which can easily build up and erode your enamel or irritate your gums if ignored. In time, it could develop into decay which may destroy your tooth and eventually be responsible for causing periodontal disease, which may make the teeth loosen or fall out completely.
WHY YOU SHOULD FIX YOUR SMILE
Besides giving you a boost of confidence, having strong teeth means being able to get the nutrition you need without having to avoid certain foods for fear of pain. For those who no longer have teeth, even with dentures, eventually, your jaw will begin to resorb. This means it degenerates since there are no longer tooth sockets to nourish and can cause many people to not only have a sunken, prematurely aged appearance long before their time, but also require a refitting of prosthetics every decade or so. With proper care of your teeth, they can last for a lifetime.
There are many options available even if you do lose a tooth, which can help you to rebuild your jaw structure and maintain its integrity for the remaining teeth. Even if you do not feel like a missing back molar is worth the concern, you should know every tooth plays a role, and each one is as important as the next. If you are worried about one or more of your teeth or would like to know about how you might be able to fix your smile, please do not hesitate to give us here at Olympia Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry a call at (360) 456-1200 to schedule an appointment to discuss your options with us.