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Dr. David A. Smith

David A Smith

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317-597-8748
12188-A North Meridian Street, Suite 355,
Carmel, IN 46032
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preventing tooth loss

Why Does Tooth Loss Happen?

By on March 12, 2016

 

There are two reactions you can have when you lose a tooth, and they’re both separated by a number of years and a lot of growing up. First, you might get excited about a visit from the tooth fairy, or that you’re growing up. Second, you might react with horror and panic – those aren’t supposed to fall out!

Tooth loss can strike your permanent teeth, and when it does it’s terrifying. If you’re worried about the potential of tooth loss, or have already lost teeth, you might be wondering what could happen and how to stop it. Today we’re going to talk about some of the most common causes of tooth loss that we see at our Carmel dentist office. With the knowledge you find here you may very well be able to stop your own teeth from falling out one by one!

Gum Disease

When tooth loss happens to adults the safe bet is that it had to do with gum disease. This horrible condition strikes nearly 60 percent of adults, and is responsible for most of the tooth loss that happens around the world.

Gum disease is serious stuff, and it’s easy to develop it as well. When oral bacteria gets beneath your gums it causes an infection that is accompanied by red, inflamed gums, bleeding when brushing, sensitivity, and even gum recession. And those are just the opening round of problems: it keeps getting worse!

As gum disease develops is causes serious infections around your teeth that start to eat away that the bones that support them – a sure fire way to end up with tooth loss. It doesn’t just stop with a single tooth either. Gum disease causes bone loss that will start a chain reaction of lost teeth until there isn’t a single one left.

Tooth Decay

Cavities start out small, and they move slow, but without treatment they will completely destroy a tooth. Caused by the same oral bacteria that is responsible for gum disease, tooth decay is the result of plaque acids eroding enamel and giving bacteria a place to hide: inside your teeth.

Tooth decay will keep going deeper and deeper into your teeth until it hits the dental pulp at the center. The pulp contains all the blood vessels and nerves that feed your teeth, and when a cavity reaches that level you’ll end up with a serious infection that’s typically treated with a root canal.

Root canals are able to resolve most serious cases of infection, but there are incidents when it’s impossible to repair a tooth due to how much of it has been destroyed. In those circumstances one of two things will happen: either we’ll extract the tooth at Really Smile Dentistry or it will eventually be destroyed and fall out on its own.

If a tooth is decayed to the point that it naturally falls out you’re in serious danger. There’s a good possibility the infection in the tooth has spread beyond it, forming an abscess that can cause serious illness.

Trauma

Accidents happen, and your teeth aren’t exempt from the trauma of a sports injury, a car accident, or even just a fall while bringing the groceries inside. Traumatic injuries can do a lot of damage to your teeth, even knocking them out in some cases.

If a tooth is knocked out due to an accident there’s a good chance that we can save it, especially if we see you right away. The other possibility is that a tooth is fractured so badly that there’s no possibility of leaving in place, forcing us to extract the remaining pieces.

There’s only so much you can do to prevent traumatic injury to your teeth, especially in day-to-day living. If you are an athlete, though, you need to be sure you’re protecting your teeth with a proper mouthguard!

Lost Teeth Can Be Restored

When you lose a tooth you may find yourself wondering what to do. Thankfully you don’t have to look too far for a solution. Our Carmel dental team can offer both bridges and dental implants as solutions to lost teeth. It’s up to you to decide which one will be best for you.

If you’re worried about gum disease or tooth decay that could put you at risk for tooth loss it’s never too late to have a comprehensive exam to be sure you’re safe. Call Really Smile Dentistry today at 317-597-8748 to schedule an appointment, or simply fill out our online form! We look forward to keeping your smile safe!

Tooth Loss: Is It Really Inevitable?

By on October 5, 2015

There’s a common belief that aging = tooth loss. We hear questions from patients at our Indianapolis dentist office all the time about losing teeth! Some think it’s inevitable and want to plan for the future and others want to know how the can stop it.

We’re here today to tell you that tooth loss is never inevitable and that there are plenty of things you can do to prevent the need for dentures or dental implants as you age! At Really Smile we’re big on helping you keep a healthy smile for life and we want to share tips on keeping your teeth healthy for years to come!

What Causes Tooth Loss?

At first it seems like tooth loss is complicated. How much can go wrong and how many ways can it happen? It’s deceptively simple and there’s one root cause for tooth loss across the board: harmful plaque bacteria!

Plaque bacteria is the stuff in your mouth that consumes sugar and spits out acids that harm your teeth and gums. That acid weakens enamel, causes tooth decay, gets under your gums to cause infection, and slowly ruins your smile!

If teeth are excessively decayed they may have to be extracted and gum disease also causes serious damage to your oral health! As bacteria weakens your gums they start to pull away from your teeth. This loosens your teeth and causes them to wiggle around until they eventually come out completely!

Tooth Loss Prevention Tips

Your oral health has a direct link to your overall health – especially as you age! If you’ve ever worried about losing teeth you might primarily be considered about your looks and eating your favorite foods but those are the least of your concerns! Studies find that tooth loss is directly related to life expectancy and early death!

Always Brush And Floss!

The bacteria that causes tooth decay always finds ways to hide itself. You’d be surprised how easily it can sneak into the tightest spots on your mouth, which is exactly why it’s so important to practice good oral hygiene! Always brush twice a day for at least two minutes and floss in the evenings. By keeping up on your home care you can easily stop decay and tooth loss!

Make sure to use a toothpaste with fluoride in it to protect and reinforce your teeth!

Professional Cleanings: Essential!

As you age your immune system can weaken. When that happens your body has less of an ability to fight off infection! Your teeth can end up damaged, decayed, and harmed much faster than a younger person! Regular cleanings and exams at our Indianapolis dentist office can detect, treat, and eliminate threats before they become serious!

Eat Well To Preserve Your Teeth

One of the biggest drawbacks to tooth loss is how it can affect your diet. Even just a few lost teeth can make it hard to eat nutritious, healthy foods that help maintain your oral health and keep your teeth healthy! It’s important to eat well now! Avoid sugar, excess carbohydrates, and food that offers no nutritional value. Pile up the fresh veggies, protein-rich foods, and calcium-filled dairy products!

Stay Hydrated!

It can be harder to stay hydrated as you age, so make sure you’re always drinking enough water! Staying hydrated promotes overall health and also helps produce saliva, which is essential to maintaining a healthy mouth. Saliva washes away food particles, removes bacteria, and neutralizes acids! Ever have that gross feeling you get with a dry mouth? That’s bacteria having a field day – don’t let it get away with it!

Don’t Neglect Your Oral Health!

Preserving your teeth can be easy, but it’s just as easy to slip into bad habits! Don’t let yourself end up seeing us at Really Smile because you’ve lost teeth – see us now while you’re still healthy!

Call our Carmel dentist office today to schedule an appointment. You can reach us at 317-597-8748 and you can also schedule an appointment by filling out our convenient online form. We look forward to helping you live a long, healthy, happy life!

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Business Hours

Monday 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Friday – Sunday – Closed)

On the blog

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How Headaches and Dental Stress Are Related

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Services

  • Teeth Whitening
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  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Dental Implants
  • Natural-Looking Dentures
  • Implant Dentistry
  • Invisalign
  • Oral Sedation Dentistry
  • Dental Sedation Options
  • TMJ

Meet the Doctor

Dr. David A. Smith explains his vision of life-changing dentistry for Really Smile Dental:

“I chose dentistry as my life’s work because I have the privilege to serve people in a way that is truly life-changing. I was honored with the appointment by Indianapolis Woman Magazine as Makeover Dentist 2008."

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Business Hours

Monday: 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Friday – Sunday: Closed)

Contact us

Really Smile Dental
Phone: 317-597-8748
Fax: 317-815-1636
URL: reallysmile.com
12188-A North Meridian Street, Suite 355
Carmel, IN 46032

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