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The Riverside dentists at Riverside Dental Group have the ultimate goal of helping patients keep their teeth, gums, and jaws healthy and strong. Losing teeth is a terrible fate as an adult. Not only is the look embarrassing, and the feeling unpleasant, but replacement is costly and time consuming. Surely there are many better ways you can think of to spend your time and money. In spite of your efforts, tooth loss can happen and if it does, we will help you. However, preventing tooth loss is the best route to avoid the commitments involved in replacing missing parts of your smile.

Brush your Teeth

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day prevents dental abscess and periodontal (gum) disease. These are the two most common causes of permanent tooth loss. Between the two, severe gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss because your gum tissues are a big part of rooting your teeth to the jawbone. Poor oral hygiene causes gingivitis (early gum disease) which will segue into complete periodontal infection, and eventually full blown periodontitis (severe gum disease). As tissues separate from the jawbone and create periodontal pockets, teeth become loose and eventually fall right out. That is, if tooth decay hasn’t hit you first. Left to fester, cavities will eventually lead to a need for an extraction to stop the infection.

Protect your Smile

Aside from dental infections, traumatic dental injuries are among common tooth loss causes. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent sports related dental injuries. Customized mouthguards soften the blow to your mouth if you play a high contact sport. Football, hockey, basketball, and soccer are among the sports which are sometimes rough enough that mouthguards are prudent. If you should incur tooth loss during a big game, try to retain the knocked out tooth, soak it in Gatorade or milk, and bring your dislodged pearly white in to a emergency dentist within an hour. Splinting and re-attachment are possible with the right timing.

Visit your Riverside Dentists

If you have any comprehensive dentistry needs, contact our Riverside dental office. For more information about the services we offer, or to reserve an appointment at Dental Associates of Riverside, call (951) 369-1001.