Bone Loss in Teeth: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What is Bone Loss in Teeth?

Damage to the jawbone surrounding the teeth or their roots causes Bone Loss in Teeth. Bone loss can happen for various reasons, but the most frequent cause is the result of one or more missing teeth that have not been repaired or replaced. Natural teeth anchored in the jawbone encourage bone growth by chewing and biting. The bone no longer receives this stimulation when teeth are missing, which causes the bone to resorb. In the first year after a tooth extraction, 25% of bone is lost without a replacement tooth or other dental solution, and the condition will worsen over time. It is also called Periodontitis.

Causes

In a healthy mouth, there are hundreds of different types of bacteria. The majority of them are entirely safe. The bacteria on your teeth grow and accumulate when you don’t brush them correctly daily. Poor dental hygiene is a common cause of Bone Loss in Teeth. The following occurs when you don’t brush your teeth and clean difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth:

• When sugars and starches from food interact with bacteria usually present in your mouth, plaque is created on your teeth. Plaque is removed by brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing once daily, but plaque quickly forms again.
• If plaque is left on your teeth, it can harden under your gum line into tartar (calculus). Tartar contains a lot of bacteria and is more difficult to remove. Plaque and tartar can cause more harm to your teeth the longer they build up. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing; professional dental cleaning is required.
• Plaque can result in gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is irritating and inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding the tooth’s root. Medical assistance and good oral hygiene practices at home can cure gingivitis.
• Continual gum Bone Loss in Teeth, which results in pockets of plaque, tartar, and bacteria between your gums and teeth, can be brought on by inflammation. Over time, the depth of these crevices increases, harboring more bacteria. If untreated, these severe infections cause bone and tissue loss, which may ultimately result in one or more teeth loss. Additionally, persistent chronic inflammation can tax your immune system.
• Misalignment can lead to bone loss when teeth no longer directly stimulate the bone because there isn’t an opposing tooth structure. The inability to engage in ordinary activities like chewing and biting can also be brought on by misalignment problems, such as TMJ, wisdom teeth coming in, lack of treatment, and regular wear and tear.

Symptoms

Healthy gums closely encircle teeth and are firm and pale pink in color. Bone Loss in Teeth symptoms and signs can include:

• Puffy or swollen gums
• Brightly colored, darkly colored, or purple gums
• When touched, the gums feel tender.
• Easy bleeding gums
• Brush with a pink tint after brushing
• Spitting up blood while using dental floss or brush
• Poor breath
• There is pus between the gums and teeth.
• Loss of teeth or crooked teeth
• Harsh chewing
• Having more spaces between your teeth
• Your teeth appear longer than usual due to receding gums that pull away from them.
• The way your teeth bite has changed

Risk Factors

You may be more susceptible to developing Bone Loss in Teeth if you have:

• Gingivitis
• Poor oral hygiene practices
• Chewing or smoking tobacco
• menopause or pregnancy can both cause hormonal changes
• Recreational drug use, including marijuana smoking and vamping
• Obesity
• Inadequate dietary intake, including a lack of vitamin C
• Genetics
• Certain medications that result in gum changes or dry mouth
• Diseases like leukemia, HIV/AIDS, and cancer treatment that lower immunity
• Several illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis

How is the Bone Loss in Teeth Treated?

Numerous factors can contribute to bone loss; only your dentist can tell you the precise cause and the kind of dental treatment required to stop further loss.

However, practicing good oral hygiene and care, such as brushing and flossing twice a day, and seeing your dentist every six months, dramatically increases your chances of a successful outcome. Bone grafting may be necessary in cases of severe bone loss to replace missing bone and to encourage the growth of new bone in that area, paving the way for dental implants, among other additional dental procedures.

Dental Hygiene Procedures

Your dental care team will give you instructions on keeping your teeth and gums clean to decrease the number of bacteria in your mouth. Your dentist will instruct you on how to use dental floss and toothbrushes properly and may also suggest other oral hygiene supplies, such as a water pick or mouthwash. To keep your mouth in good shape, consider the following advice:

• Consider switching to an electric toothbrush, which is more efficient.
• To get rid of plaque, floss daily at the very least.
• Professional cleaning should be done at least twice a year at the dentist.
• Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco.

Specialized Cleaning

Your dentist will thoroughly clean by removing tartar and plaque from your teeth and their roots. They will then polish your teeth and fluoridate them. Deep cleaning might be necessary to remove any Bone Loss in Teeth pockets to promote healing. Tartar can be scraped off, and any rough areas on the tooth root where bacteria like to congregate can be removed using a deep cleaning technique called scaling and root planning.

Antibiotics

Your dentist may occasionally recommend antibiotics when gum infections are persistent and don’t go away after cleanings. An oral tablet, capsule, mouthwash gel, or antibiotic may use an oral tablet, capsule, mouthwash, gel, or antibiotic to treat certain conditions.

Follow-Up Consultations

After a few weeks, your dentist will want to check in with you roughly every three to six months to evaluate your progress. They might suggest additional treatments, such as surgery if periodontal pockets are still present.

Surgery

Your dentist might suggest a surgical procedure called flap surgery to clean deposits under your gums if inflammation persists in areas that are difficult to reach with brushing and flossing. Your gums are removed while you are sedated, and your teeth’s roots are cleaned. After that, your gums are sutured (stitched) back into position.

Why Bone Loss in Teeth Occurs

As the jawbone beneath your Bone Loss in Teeth “eats away,” the ligaments holding your teeth to the bone are destroyed, which leads to tooth loss. The pressure and stimulation of chewing are lost when one or more teeth are lost and are not replaced, resulting in the bone surrounding and supporting the tooth being absorbed back into your system due to lack of use.

25% of the bone is lost in the first year after a tooth loss, which continues until all missing teeth are replaced with implants. Once the jawbone has partially vanished and the muscles and tissues are no longer adequately supported, your face eventually takes on an entirely new shape. Dentures are ineffective because they only exert 10% of the pressure needed to stop bone loss.

How serious is Bone Loss in Teeth?

Bone Loss in Teeth disease can result in tooth loss if it is not treated. In extreme circumstances, the bone that surrounds the teeth may completely disappear. The teeth may become loose as a result and eventually fall out. Other issues can arise from tooth-bone loss. It might be challenging to eat and speak clearly. Additionally, it may increase the risk of developing other illnesses like heart disease and stroke. Improving your oral hygiene if you have gingivitis is crucial to stopping periodontal disease from spreading.

Prevention

The best way to avoid developing Bone Loss in Teeth is to practice good oral hygiene regularly throughout your life, starting when you are young.

• Proper oral care. To achieve this, you must brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily—in the morning and before bed—and floss at least once. Before brushing, floss to get rid of bacteria and loosen food particles. Maintaining good oral hygiene stops the environment around your teeth from becoming favorable to the particular bacteria that cause Bone Loss in Teeth.
• Regular dental appointments Visit your dentist or dental hygienist for cleanings regularly, typically every six to twelve months. You might require professional cleaning more frequently if you smoke, take certain medications, have a dry mouth, or have other risk factors for Bone Loss in Teeth.

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