3 Vital Reasons To Take Better Care Of Your Teeth
The set of permanent teeth you have in your mouth is very important, primarily because this is the only set you will ever get. Having strong, healthy teeth is not only important for the way you look, but it is also important for a variety of other reasons. This is why you should take all the necessary steps you can to make sure you care properly for your teeth. Here are some of the main reasons taking care of your teeth is an important part of life.
They Will Not Last
The first and most important reason for caring for your teeth properly is to help them last. Teeth can last an entire lifetime if they are cared for, but they can also wear out, rot away, and experience other types of problems if you do not care for them.
If you do not care for your teeth, one of the first problems you may experience is tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs from acid that eats away at teeth. When the decay is not removed quickly, it will continue eating away at your teeth. Eventually, tooth decay can destroy an entire tooth.
Not only is tooth decay bad for teeth, but it is also bad for your gums and roots of your teeth. When decay gets into the roots of your teeth, you may experience infections and require root canal treatments. When decay starts eating away at your gums, you will probably develop gum disease. Over time, all these problems can lead to bad breath, a loss of teeth, and receding gum lines.
To prevent all of these things from occurring, you must brush and floss your teeth daily, and you must also make a habit of visiting a dentist twice each year. If your dentist discovers any issues with your teeth or gums, get the issues fixed. Fixing the problems will prevent further problems from occurring.
Tooth Replacements Are Expensive And Prone To Problems
The second important reason to care for your teeth is so that you can prevent needing replacements for your teeth. When teeth rot away or fall out, you can replace them with dental bridges, crowns, implants, and dentures. While these are all great options for replacing teeth, there is not a single one that will work and function like your real teeth.
In addition, getting any form of tooth replacement can be extremely costly. For example, a set of good dentures is likely to cost around $4,000 to $8,000. One dental implant may cost around $4,000, and this will only replace one tooth. Either of these options will last for a very long time if you care for them properly, but they are still not the same as your real teeth.
Oral Health Has Effects On Your General Health
Finally, you should understand that your oral health can affect your general health. If you have bacteria and infections in your mouth, they can transfer to other parts of your body through your blood stream. This can lead to problems with your heart, and it may even increase your risks for developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease. If you are diabetic, oral health problems can lead to complications controlling your blood sugar. Your overall health can be negatively affected if you do not take good care of your teeth.
Taking care of your teeth does not require a lot of time each day, but it does require a little bit of time. If you have let your teeth go and want to prevent further damage to them, you should schedule an appointment with a family dentist like Tony Parsley, DMD in your neighborhood today.