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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

How to Slow Down Bone Loss in Teeth

Taking care of dental health may seem easy, but it is a challenging task that requires consistent dedication. At times, there may be loopholes in our daily oral hygiene regimen, providing scope for bacteria and fungi to take control. A very typical manifestation of negligence in daily oral care is cavities. The bacteria that causes cavities may also occur loss of tooth bone underneath the gum line, consequently eating away the jaw bone and the ligament that holds the tooth in place. 

If untreated, then the proliferation of the bacteria can lead to further bone loss in the teeth. In simple terms, dental bone loss occurs when the bone supporting the teeth recedes, causing the teeth to become loose in their sockets. Tooth bone loss is most commonly associated with gum problems like periodontitis, osteoporosis, type II diabetes mellitus, and so forth. 

The various early symptoms of bone loss include:

  • Loose or shifty tooth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Intense toothache
  • Increased sensitivity in the teeth
  • Foul breath

Now that we have laid down the fundamentals of bone loss, let us look at the various ways to reverse, treat, and slow down bone loss. 

Professional Treatments for Tooth Bone Loss

  1. Bone Grafting: In cases of extreme tooth bone loss, bone grafting remains the sole solution. The most significant benefit of bone grafting is that it replaces the bone and induces the re-growth of the jawbone. The process assists in the creation of enough bone surfaces for a dental implant replacement. 
  2. Composite Bonding: It is a dental procedure that helps the teeth to reshape by hiding the black triangles or holes between the teeth that are consequent on the bone loss in teeth. Composite bonding can change the look of the teeth and help in building confidence. 
  3. Ridge Augmentation: It is a surgical process fashioned to add grafted or synthetic bone tissue to reinstate the ridge to its optimal height and shape. 

Prevention of Tooth Bone Loss 
Prevention is better than cure, and this statement holds unrivaled significance in the case of dental health. Rather than spending thousands of dollars to reverse tooth bone loss, it would be best if you opted for healthy oral hygiene habits that will slow down bone loss altogether. 

  • Thoroughly brushing the teeth twice a day is essential to stop the proliferation of bacteria inside the mouth. After brushing, you should floss properly and top everything off with a good mouthwash.
  • Elevating the consumption of calcium and Vitamin D can also help the teeth’ enamel become more robust, thereby preventing bone loss.
  • You should avoid habits like smoking and excessive drinking.
  • It would help if you did not consume excessive amounts of sugary foods and drinks.
  • Using fluoride-rich toothpaste is essential to prevent the formation of bacteria inside the mouth and keep tooth bone loss at bay.
  • It is imperative to regularly visit the dentist and get the teeth professionally cleaned time and again.

Taking care of dental health by following an appropriate oral care regime and following healthy eating and drinking habits is the most reasonable way to keep the teeth and gums strong and prevent bone loss. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!