As people age, it’s not uncommon for them to lose their teeth or for their teeth to crack or break more easily. The enamel on the teeth can thin and weaken due to everyday wear and tear, and this makes the teeth more prone to minor cracks and breaks. Minor fractures should be addressed by a dentist at your next scheduled appointment, but if your tooth falls out or half your tooth breaks off, see your dentist right away. When the gums and teeth are unhealthy, the risks of severe fracture and tooth loss increase. The most common cause of tooth loss is gum disease that has been allowed to progress without treatment, and a prevailing cause of tooth fracture is tooth decay, which makes the tooth structure more fragile and more likely to break or crack. When gum disease and tooth decay combine, the effects can be disastrous. If your tooth falls out, or if your tooth cracks or breaks in half, this could cause an avalanche of uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous circumstances. In most cases, it’s possible to prevent your teeth from fracturing or breaking and to help keep your teeth whole and healthy in your jaw over the long term, and it’s also possible to repair or replace a tooth that breaks or falls out.
Sometimes, the teeth are damaged by injury or impact, and these accidents are more difficult to prevent, though there are still safety measures you can take to keep your teeth intact. If you play contact sports, ask your dentist for a recommendation for a mouthguard you can wear to protect your teeth. Remember that your teeth aren’t household tools, too; they’re strong, but they’re designed to chew and bite food and not to open bottles or packages or untie tight knots. If you habitually chew a pen or toothpick or gnaw on ice or gum, ask your dentist for some behavior-modification suggestions and keep in mind that you’re weakening your teeth with each ill-advised chomp. Dentists also recommend maintaining a balanced diet so the bones and teeth stay strong and sturdy, and certain risk factors, like inflammatory conditions and smoking, increase the risk of damage to the teeth, so make sure to be honest with your dentist when you review your medical history.
Make sure to see your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings so that any tooth decay can be intercepted early on. These dental cavities can be filled more easily when they’re small, and repairing cavities helps maintain the strength of the tooth and prevent breakage. If a cavity is left untreated, the decay could cause half the tooth to break off – or more. Regular dental checkups are also one of the most important lines of defense against gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and bone atrophy if left untreated. Gum disease in its early stages is easily treated and reversible, but this requires regular professional checkups and cleanings. Without these interventions, gum disease begins to wreak havoc on the oral cavity, destroying the tissues that hold the teeth in place and causing the teeth to fall out. If tooth decay and gum disease are both present, as is often the case, the teeth will break and also fall out. Twice-daily brushing and daily flossing, combined with regular dental visits, can help keep these ailments at bay and help you keep your teeth whole.