Every May we celebrate the importance of saving natural teeth! It is more important than ever to realize that nothing looks, feels, or acts like your natural teeth. In fact, teeth are one of the most important investments in life.
An AAE (American Association of Endodontists) survey revealed the following:
- Millennials care about saving their natural teeth just as much as if not more than any other aspect of their body. 24% of millennials ranked their teeth as the number one thing they would save. This is as compared to baby boomers who ranked eyesight as number one.
- 61% of women and 51% of men felt strongly that saving their natural teeth helps them feel better about themselves.
- More than 95% of people said it is important to save your natural teeth.
On the other hand, research shows that as many as 178 million Americans have at least one tooth missing. Tooth loss cannot just affect psychological well-being, it can also lead to systemic diseases such as diabetes.
It is the habits that you create while you are young that determine whether you will be able to preserve this investment.
Top 5 reasons to save your natural teeth
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should save your natural teeth.
#1. They make you look beautiful
First things first! Natural teeth that are well-maintained are beautiful and make you look gorgeous. As they say, a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear! Those pearly white teeth can add to your confidence & beauty. In their absence not only do you experience physical issues, but it also impacts your psychological well-being. Thankfully, all you need to do to keep them looking sparkly is to brush them regularly with a fluoride toothpaste, floss and stick to regular visits to your dentist.
#2 Help enjoy your favorite food
Every tooth is uniquely formed to help you bite and chew your food. Crunching into those fresh fruits and vegetables is best done with your natural teeth. Unless you’re a perfect candidate for dental implants, you will find that things such as biting into a crispy apple, which you took for granted, now need tremendous care.
#3 Help in speech
Your teeth help you articulate your thoughts. In fact, you rely on your lips, tongue & teeth to help you form words together. Most sounds require your tongue to hit either your teeth or the roof of your mouth. With missing teeth, what is impacted is your ability to articulate well as also make certain sounds.
#4 Preserve your face structure
Natural teeth have roots that help anchor them into the jawbone. On chewing, the bone tissue is stimulated, and its shape and strength maintained. A replacement tooth cannot build bone. Additionally, anything that impacts your teeth such as grinding of teeth can impact not just the teeth but also the symmetry of the face.
#5 Offer better shock absorption
Natural teeth are known to have a periodontal ligament that acts as its shock absorbent system especially when you bite or chew. With dental implants this capability is lost. In fact, too much pressure in such cases can lead to bone loss.
When you are young, and your teeth and gums are problem free, you may not think much of these benefits. The fact, however, remains that neglecting your natural teeth can come with a lot of issues including but not limited to the fact that you would need to spend a lot of money on restoration and treatment over a period. The loss of natural teeth can also lead to:
- Shifting among remaining teeth
- Increased risk of decay if there has been shifting
- Bone loss
- Decrease in self-confidence, and more.
What is a natural restoration?
Should you face an issue with your teeth, the first line of action is a natural restoration that restores the natural health of your teeth. Some of the examples of natural restoration include:
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Root canal treatment
However, it may be too late to save your natural tooth sometimes. This occurs when:
- There is severe dental trauma.
- Tooth decay is excessive.
- If the oral cavity has been damaged.
In such cases the dentist would need to extract the natural tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Typically, the bone bonds with the implant and keeps it in place.
Tips for saving your teeth!
Prioritizing your dental health can go a long way in saving your natural teeth. Some of the tips for saving your teeth include:
- Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice daily.
- Flossing your teeth regularly.
- Scheduling six monthly dental appointments where your teeth can be cleaned, and any issues can be caught early.
- Act immediately if you experience any pain or swelling. Seeing your dentist in time can ensure that the problem does not become bigger and more widespread.
- If a tooth extraction is suggested, do check to see if a root canal treatment is a feasible alternative. Root canals are typically painless, they help in preservation of your natural teeth as also take away the risk of teeth shifting and bone loss. However, your dentist will be in the best position to suggest whether a root canal is a possibility, so you will need to go with the dentist’s recommendation.
To sum up
In the current times, the pandemic has caused a lot of people to put regular dental check-ups on the backburner. As the situation begins to ease, it is imperative that dental checkups be given the attention they deserve. This Save your Tooth Month, do ensure that you focus on saving your natural teeth! It is also time to raise awareness about tooth saving procedures such as root canal treatments! If you haven’t scheduled your dental appointment yet, this month is the opportune time! Here is to your oral health!
At Dental Oasis Family Dentistry, we do offer a full array of dental services including root canal, tooth whitening, Dentures, Tooth Extraction, & more to help you maintain healthy teeth. Call us on (925) 846-4491 or email us on office@dentaloasispleasanton.com to schedule a dental appointment.