Everyone wants to live their life with a full set of bright, healthy teeth. As you get older, your risk for tooth loss increases, because your teeth are bound to experience natural wear throughout your lifetime. However, there are still plenty of factors in your control when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy. One of the best ways to avoid tooth loss and keep your teeth comfortably in place is by keeping your jaw healthy. How do you do that? It’s not like anyone is regularly cleaning their jaw. You can achieve strong periodontal health by keeping your teeth and gums clean.
Periodontitis Causes Your Jaw Bone to Degrade
You may not think about the health of your jaw often, but it’s important. Your jaw bone holds your teeth in place, and if it experiences degradation, your teeth could be at risk. The type of disease that causes wear on your jaw is known as periodontitis. This is actually an advanced form of gum disease that develops when you fail to treat gingivitis. When you develop periodontitis, the bacteria infecting your jaw will wear away at your actual jaw bone. This bone isn’t something that your body can simply regrow. It’s a serious problem.
Preventing Periodontitis Is a Matter of Preventing Gum Disease
The good news is that keeping your jaw bone healthy doesn’t require some elaborate care routine. If you keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy, you’ll prevent periodontitis. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily are often enough to prevent gingivitis from ever developing. Be sure to brush away from your gum line to remove bacteria from these areas. If you do develop early stages of gum disease, you should see your dentist for scaling and root planing. This process, also known as a “deep cleaning,” can remove bacterial buildup from these sensitive areas.
A Healthy Jaw Is Part of Overall Oral Health
Keeping your jaw healthy is a great way to prevent potential tooth loss as you get older. Advanced gum disease will sever the connections between your teeth and jaw bone. As the disease eats away at your jaw bone mass, your jaw will no longer be able to hold your teeth in place. You may notice your teeth becoming loose, and you may no longer feel comfortable chewing and eating some foods. If the condition worsens, your teeth can even fall out eventually.
Maintain Proper Gum Health with Visits to Greenhaven Family Dentistry
In addition to brushing and flossing at home, you should also be making regular visits to Greenhaven Family Dentistry for checkups and cleanings. If Dr. Roberts notices a problem developing with your teeth or gums, he can treat it right away to ensure that serious damage does not occur. Schedule your checkup at Greenhaven Family Dentistry in Baxter, MN by calling 218-454-0523.