How to Protect Your Teeth

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How to Protect Your Teeth

My kids are involved in several different sports, including some that are known for being a bit rough, like hockey and football. I worry about them being injured, but I don’t want to curb their athletic spirit. So I take steps to make certain that they’re as protected as possible. That means protecting their teeth, too. My children’s dentist told me that the best way to protect their teeth was to use custom mouth guards that would keep their teeth safe even in the event of a blow to the mouth. I started this blog to talk about different ways to protect teeth – from mouth guards and dental devices you wear while you sleep, to plain old brushing and flossing. There are many ways to protect your teeth depending on your needs. Find out which one is right for you.

4 Reasons To Have A Dental Implant

Dental implants are often used to replace a tooth that has been lost due to trauma or decay. According to statistics, three million Americans have dental implants, and about 500,000 implants are placed annually. Since the success rate of a dental implant is approximately 98 percent, many people are enjoying the freedom of tooth replacement through dental implants. Missing teeth can cause a number of problems that may be resolved by prosthetic tooth replacement. Here are a few reasons to have a dental implant:

Misalignment

The space left by missing teeth can allow the other teeth in your mouth to shift measurably. A tooth serves as a placeholder for the teeth that lie next to it. When a tooth is lost, those adjacent teeth can shift out of place. This shifting can result in bite problems or even jaw pain.

Smile

Missing teeth, especially those that lie in the front of the mouth, can have a dramatic effect on your appearance. It may be difficult to smile with confidence when there are gaps caused by missing teeth. People who have lost a tooth may cover their mouth with their hand when they smile or speak. This can impact their ability to communicate effectively, but it also affects and their overall personal presentation.

Maintenance of Facial Structure

Your cheeks and lips rest on your teeth. The support provided by the teeth prevents the jaws and mouth from having a sunken appearance. Sunken cheeks can affect the way that the skin appears around the eyes and jaw line. This is often seen in people of advanced age, since tooth loss is more prevalent in that portion of the population.

Digestion

Teeth are designed to break down food into smaller particles for easy digestion. However, when teeth are missing, the food may not be broken down enough to allow ease of digestion.

As teeth tear and grind food, the surface area of the food that is exposed to the enzymes in saliva increases. The smaller food particles are exposed to the digestive juices of the stomach in a similar manner. Thus, large pieces of food are more difficult to digest.

The issues that are caused by a lost tooth can affect your ability to enjoy your life. If you have a missing tooth, a dental implant may be a suitable replacement option.  Contact a dentist in your area like Maria E Marzo, D.D.S., PC for a thorough assessment to determine whether a dental implant is right for you.


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