Dentist in Huntersville, NC

Your teeth are incredibly strong and durable. And there is a simple reason for why that is so — your teeth need to last an entire lifetime. But if you’re thinking that losing your pearly whites is an inevitability, this isn’t something which you should accept as gospel truth. This is because your teeth are actually not lost because of the natural aging process; teeth are lost because of some oral disease. So if you want your smile to last you your entire lifetime, then you need to be wary of these conditions:

Periodontal Diseases, Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Your gums do not just exist in order to add a little bit of pink whenever you smile. In reality, your gums actually serve to keep your teeth in place. In fact, gum tissues should adhere tightly to the circumference of each tooth in order to ensure that your teeth won’t fall off one by one in a horrifying manner. For this reason, it becomes extremely problematic if your gums become infected and thin out over a period of time. Hence, Dr. Tate C. Langdon would always emphasize the need for you to floss and brush regularly in order to get rid of plaque as well as tartar, which initiate the development of periodontal diseases.

There are two types of periodontal diseases that can lead to teeth loss — gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a non-destructive inflammation of your gums, while periodontitis affects not just your gums but also the underlying bone structures which support your facial features as well as your teeth. Of the two, periodontitis is more severe.

Tooth Decay

You may have seen children smiling with their decayed teeth, a sign that they more than enjoy their sugar. But while children are prone to tooth decay, that does not mean adults, by virtue of their age, are immune from the dental condition. On the other hand, some adults are actually prone to tooth decay because of their impaired ability to produce saliva. Saliva is considered as your mouth’s natural mouthwash. Without saliva, bacteria, which are capable of melting your teeth through the acids they produce, would be able to proliferate much freely.

Saliva production can be encouraged by chewing on sugarless gum the entire day. At the same time, good dental hygiene still cannot be emphasized enough, since cleaning your mouth at regular intervals will ensure that populations of oral bacteria are always kept in check.

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