If you stumbled upon this blog, chances are you are one of the 178 million Americans who have lost an adult tooth before they turn 65. We are glad you are here! The first step is to take a deep breath and realize that this is more common than you may think. 30% of Americans aged 65-74 have no natural teeth.
Before we talk about preventing you from being added to that 30%, let’s talk about what you should do if you lose an adult tooth.
Losing An Adult Tooth: A Guide
So, you lost a tooth. Now what? Before you go hiding your tooth under your pillow, we have put together some tips that will help guide you:
- Save the tooth.
- Grab it by the crown. If you lost your tooth, make sure to handle it by the top of the tooth and not the root to prevent further damage.
- Rinse it, don’t wash it. Washing the tooth with any chemicals will ruin the tooth. If the tooth does have contaminants on it, you can rinse it gently with water.
If possible, place the tooth inside your cheek or back in the socket to keep it from becoming brittle. You can also put your tooth in a small container of milk until a dentist can see you.
- Call Your dentist.
- It is essential that you contact your dentist as soon as possible when you lose an adult tooth. The chances are high that they will save your tooth, but the longer you wait, those chances decrease. If you don’t have a dentist, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! We schedule emergency dental appointments for new and existing patients.
Without following the proper steps, you could be looking at an artificial implant. Of course, you can follow the steps above to help after something like this happens, but the best action is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place.
The Only Cure is Prevention
There are a few things that can cause the loss of an adult tooth. While mouth trauma and a recent fistfight can cause tooth loss, the most common cause is tooth decay. Tooth decay can start subtly, and if you are not seeing a dentist regularly as recommended by the American Dental Association, tooth decay can spread quickly, cause cavities, and eventually lead to tooth loss.
90% of Americans are diagnosed with tooth decay or gum disease. Of those, 20% never seek dental treatment. The ‘cure’ for tooth decay is preventing it from happening in the first place. Scheduling an appointment with a dentist 2 times every year is a good start. While there may be instances where your provider needs to see you more frequently due to medical conditions, genetics, or lifestyle, this bi-yearly visit can make a huge difference when it comes to preventing tooth decay, disease, and loss.
Let Us Care for Your Teeth
At Highlands Ranch Dental Group, any of our excellent providers would be happy to see you and establish a routine dental plan. If you suffer from tooth decay or tooth loss or worry that you will suffer from it in the future, our team can help alleviate your anxiety and put a plan in place to give you a healthy, beautiful smile. You can also read more about the signs of tooth decay. In addition, new patients can be seen for a first-time exam, x-rays, and cleaning for just $59.
We look forward to caring for your teeth.