Want your teeth to last for a lifetime? If so, you will need to make sure you are taking proactive measures to maintain good oral hygiene throughout your life! Some people may believe that having dentures is inevitable, but this is a true misconception. Tooth loss can be prevented with simple measures, such as keeping regular dental check-ups and maintaining good oral-care at home. Your dental professionals are trained to diagnose and treat oral diseases and common problems like tooth decay before it progresses to the point of no return for your teeth. Your dentist may also provide preventative treatments such as fluoride, which is known to help strengthen tooth enamel and reverse early tooth decay. In addition, brushing at least twice a day and flossing your teeth daily is key to avoiding dentures. If you notice that you still have a film of dental plaque and debris on your teeth after brushing, you may want to try switching to an electric toothbrush, which tends to help improve efficiency in cleaning. Maintaining a healthy diet and limiting items such as sugars and acidic foods and beverages can help lower your risk of developing tooth decay.
Interestingly, a new study suggests that having to wear dentures may even have negative implications on your nutrition. Researchers from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Dentistry found that the nutrition of individuals with dentures was significantly impaired in comparison to those who did not wear dentures.
They used the electronic dental and health records of over 10,000 patients to evaluate individuals with dentures and markers for nutrition. They reported that people with dentures had a significant decline in nutrition markers, which was not seen in individuals who did not wear dentures. Senior author and director of the Regenstrief and IU School of Dentistry Dental Informatics program, Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, MDS, PhD, noted, “Dentures are a significant change for a person. They do not provide the same chewing efficiency, which may alter eating habits.” The researchers would like to further investigate other factors that may influence nutrition to draw stronger conclusions.
Do your best to avoid having to have dentures, it will not only save your natural smile, but also your health!
This pandemic has impacted us all, but our community is indeed all stronger together. Our team at WDG always has your safety and health as our top priority, and we have implemented additional safety measures and equipment to help prevent the transmission of all infections, including COVID-19. Wellesley Dental Group has completely reopened since June 8th, 2020 for all dental procedures and cleanings! Thank you for entrusting your health and dental care to us at Wellesley Dental Group.
Feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group if you have any thoughts or concerns; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment.
Your little ones and teens are welcome to visit our pediatric dentist, Dr. Bahar Houshman and Dr. Marisa Reason is happy to help with your TMJ and orthodontic needs. For wisdom teeth extractions or any other oral surgery needs, Dr. Reisman would love to help, and our gum-specialist Dr. Singh can help with your gum-related concerns.
References:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421100149.htm