What You Should Know About Your Teeth and Age

Have you heard that it’s natural to lose your teeth as you get older? Fortunately, this is a myth. In reality, your pearly whites won’t weaken to the point of tooth loss on their own. Luckily, there are a number of steps you can try to keep your teeth healthy and strong.

For instance, did you know that teeth grinding or chewing on objects you shouldn’t chew on—such as pencils, pens, and ice—could weaken your enamel? Doing any of these things will ultimately wear down your enamel, which could leave you much more vulnerable to tooth loss and to tooth decay. Eating unhealthy food can also wear down your enamel.

Similarly, did you know that staying hydrated is important to your oral health? Unfortunately, as you age, your body won’t retain water as well. Furthermore, some medications can lead to a problem known as dry mouth. This is a fairly serious problem because dehydration can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. To make matters worse, if you have gum disease, connectives tissues that hold our teeth in place might be affected, making you much more likely to lose one of your pearly whites. You can usually prevent gum disease—and several other problems—if you brush and floss your pearly whites every day.

Of course, other issues—including trauma and some illnesses—could also cause tooth loss. If you would like to learn more about keeping your teeth healthy in Duncanville, Texas, please feel free to give our dental office a call at 972-298-6131. Our dentist, Dr. Edward B. Miller, will be glad to inspect your teeth and gums and help you keep your teeth healthy.