The art of prosthetic dentistry, which focuses on the design and placement of lifelike prosthetic teeth, has helped countless patients bounce back after losing one or more teeth. Nevertheless, preventing tooth loss in the first place is the preferable way of preserving your smile and ensuring a lifetime of excellent oral health. Fortunately, the best ways to prevent tooth loss involve things that you should do already, such as taking good care of your teeth at home and visiting your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
Brushing and flossing your teeth every day should be second nature, but not everyone remembers to do it, and some simply neglect to. It may seem like a small thing, but skipping the routine even once can allow plaque to calcify into tartar, which you can’t brush away. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice every day and floss at least once to control plaque and tartar, which are the driving forces behind the most common cause of tooth loss—gum disease.
Even people who diligently stick to good hygiene at home might be tempted to postpone or cancel their checkup and cleaning appointments once in a while. Life gets busy, and this, too, may seem like a small thing, but keeping a strict schedule of preventive visits to your dentist is the only way to control tartar and spot early signs of impending trouble. If you skip a visit, you might not know what you’re missing until you make your next appointment, at which point your risks of tooth loss may have increased.