Believe it or not, but “soft teeth” isn’t hereditary, like many people believe. Everyone is at risk for tooth loss, and it all depends on what you choose to do with that knowledge that will determine whether you get “soft teeth” or not. If you choose to ignore the risk , you can look forward to a future of dentures smiling back at you from a glass of water – a toothless, gummy smile – hours in a dental chair, awaiting your chosen tooth replacement…

If none of the above images sounds appealing to you, there ARE things you can do – and stop doing – to prevent tooth loss, starting TODAY.

STOP:

·      Opening lids or caps with your teeth

·      Cracking ice-cubes or popcorn kernels

·      Chewing pencils or pens

·      Loosening knots or tearing off tags with your teeth

·      Holding clothing hangers with your teeth

·      Smoking

·      Eating/drinking unhealthy, sugary and acidic foods/drinks

DO:

·      Keep your dentist’s appointments

·      Brush and floss

o   Use toothpaste that contains fluoride

·      Give your tooth brush a good power washing, in the dishwasher or in a cup of mouthwash

·      Let your toothbrush dry completely before using it again

·      Keep your dental appointments

·      Manage chronic disease

DON’T:

·      Share your toothbrush

·      Clench or grind your teeth

One retired dentist once said that “Teeth do not die a natural death—we kill them.” I could not have put it better myself. Everything we do with our mouths has a direct impact on the life of our teeth. If we hope to keep them for a lifetime, we have to start taking care of them, because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

If you’re not already, start preventing your teeth from falling out. Visit https://dentalpassions.com/comfort-management-prevention/ to see how else you can start taking care of your teeth.