Dreading Dentures? Take These Steps to Keep Your Teeth.

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, approximately 35 million Americans have no remaining natural teeth. Of that number, about 90% wear full dentures. When we’re young, dentures seem like an inevitable, somewhat laughable part of old age. Once you reach your 40s and 50s and the prospect of dentures looms ever closer, you may start to look at the situation in a more serious light. Luckily, you can take steps now to avoid the oral health problems that lead to tooth loss.

Keep an Eye on Old Dental Work

Tooth decay, one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss, is triggered by the buildup of bacterial plaque in hard-to-clean places. If you’ve ever seen a commercial for dental floss or toothbrushes, you probably know that plaque-like hides between teeth and at the gum line. What many people don’t know is that plaque also likes to hide at the margins of dental work, those tiny gaps where the edge of dental restoration (like a filling or crown) meets the tooth. At your next six-month checkup, talk to your dentist about the health and stability of your dental work and what preventive measures you can add to your at-home dental hygiene routine to keep those areas clean.

Eat More Smile-Friendly Foods

By this point in your life, you probably know that a diet high in sugar and refined starch is bad for your teeth (and your heart and your blood sugar). But a smile-friendly diet is more about what you can eat rather than what you can’t eat. While you should certainly reduce the number of sugary foods and drinks you consume in a day (the American Heart Association recommends no more than 22 grams of sugar per day for adult women and 36 grams a day for adult men), try incorporating these foods every day:

• Calcium-rich dairy products, like low-fat milk and cheese help, fortify tooth enamel and, as recent research suggests, eating a small chunk of cheese at the end of your meal can dramatically reduce enamel damage caused by acidic foods.
• Nuts contain high levels of magnesium and phosphorus, minerals vital for maintaining healthy teeth. Even better, nuts are a good source of protein, which is necessary to maximize your body’s ability to absorb magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium.

Don’t Forget Good Old Brushing and Flossing

It’s not exciting and it certainly isn’t sexy, but brushing and flossing regularly and seeing your dentist every six months for a routine checkup are your best bets for keeping your teeth throughout your life. Daily dental hygiene keeps populations of harmful oral bacteria in check, lowering your risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Regular checkups let your dentist keep a close eye on developing problems and allow his dental hygiene staff to remove plaque and tartar buildup from hard-to-clean spaces.

About Dr. Mark Miller

At Snow Park Dental, Dr. Miller provides the preventive and restorative dental care you need to help you enjoy optimal oral health. Contact us today at (505) 596-4479 to schedule a consultation or appointment at our Albuquerque dentist’s office. We proudly serve families from Rio Rancho, Corrales, Edgewood, Tijeras, Los Lunas, and surrounding communities.

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