Few of us fully understood just how important it was to brush and floss our teeth when we were growing up. Even fewer were taught the exact techniques that are effective. You need to use a brush that has soft-to-medium bristles (hard ones and aggressive brushing techniques will wear down the gums). You should stroke from the gum line to the top of the tooth on both the back and front, spending two minutes on the entire mouth twice a day. Floss needs to scrape each side between the teeth to remove all food debris, as bacteria feed on them and create the sticky film called plaque. If plaque is not removed, it will soon turn into hardened tartar, or calculus, leading to periodontal infection that will gradually cause recession of the gums supporting each tooth.
Over time, the loss of a tooth can cause neighboring teeth to shift into the empty space, leading to misalignment and instability. This movement weakens the surrounding teeth, increasing the likelihood of further tooth loss or the need for extractions. As a result, you may eventually require a partial denture. However, partial dentures do not prevent the gradual loss of jawbone density that occurs when teeth are missing. If this bone loss continues, it may necessitate a full denture, which can present challenges in chewing and speaking clearly.
Dental implants are another option. An implant is a small biocompatible titanium alloy, or ceramic screw that is inserted into the empty socket where the tooth was and allowed to integrate with the jawbone. A few months later it will be attached to a crown, which looks like the visible portion of a tooth and is custom-made of dental porcelain to match the shade of the neighboring teeth. This not only allows you to eat and speak as before the tooth loss, but it also stops the misalignment of the other teeth. With proper care, a dental implant could be a permanent solution.
Implants can also be used to improve conventional dentures by anchoring them into the jawbone, which will slow down the normal erosion process that typically comes with aging tooth loss.
By Alexander Ash, DDS
Dr. Ash is the founder of Studio Dental Care. He earned his Doctorate at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, followed by two General Residencies at New York-Presbyterian / Weill-Cornell Hospital and the UCLA Sepulveda VA Hospital.