Natural Teeth—One of the Most Important Investments in Life
According to one recent study, 24% of millennials said their natural teeth were the number-one thing they would like to preserve about their bodies as they age. The right dental care routine can help you achieve this goal.
The habits you create when you’re young can help you look and feel great for the rest of your life. This applies to your dental care, too. By taking a proactive approach to your oral health, you can help keep your smile bright for years to come.
Wondering why you should save your natural teeth? Today, we’re sharing five reasons why this is one of the most important investments you can make.
1. Natural teeth look beautiful.
Let’s start with the obvious. Natural teeth are simply beautiful! Thanks to innovations in dental technology, prosthetics such as implants, crowns, and bridges look more realistic than ever before.
However, nothing can compete with the look of real, natural teeth that have been well-maintained. Thankfully, you don’t have to follow an extensive routine to keep your teeth and gums in great shape. By brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and staying up-to-date on your dentist visits, you can help keep yours looking their best.
2. Natural teeth help you eat.
There’s more behind your smile than what meets the eye. Did you know that your mouth is actually the beginning of your digestive system? It’s true! Each tooth is uniquely formed to help you chew and bite effectively. When you eat, your teeth rip the food into small pieces so they’re easier to swallow. In effect, this makes them easier to digest.
Without your natural teeth in place, it can become difficult to enjoy your favorite foods. That’s why it’s important to take great care of them and preserve them for as long as possible.
3. Natural teeth aid in speech.
Every time you open your mouth to speak, you’re relying on your lips, tongue, and teeth to work together to help you form words. They do so by controlling the flow of air into and out of your mouth.
To create most sounds, your tongue will either strike your teeth or the roof of your mouth. If you’re missing any of your natural teeth, then it can affect your ability to pronounce and articulate well.
4. Natural teeth preserve your face structure.
Your natural teeth have long roots that securely anchor your teeth into your jaw. As you chew, those teeth roots stimulate and help maintain your jawbone. In this way, your teeth play an important role in the overall structure of your face. When they’re in place and in great shape, your face looks symmetrical and balanced.
On the other hand, anything that shortens your teeth, such as excessive grinding, can create asymmetry in your face. Other conditions, such as a collapsing bite, can protrude your jaw forward, giving your face a hollow and sunken appearance.
5. Preserving natural teeth saves money.
You know what they say about an ounce of prevention! While you’re younger and your teeth and gums are problem-free, you might not think too much about brushing or flossing. However, this is the perfect time to focus on those habits!
Neglecting your natural teeth now could mean paying more for restorations and treatments down the road. It’s much more cost-effective to pay for routine, preventative checkups than specialty services that require more labor-intensive work and premium materials.
What is a natural restoration?
A natural restoration is a dental treatment that restores the natural health, form, and function of your teeth. It also prevents additional damage that decay can cause. With this type of treatment, your natural tooth is preserved to the greatest extent possible.
If your tooth does become decayed or damaged over time, then it’s always smart to choose a natural restoration as your first option. Examples of natural restorations include:
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Root canals
At Millennium Dental, we offer a range of restorative dentistry services. While some practices are more focused on quick-fix treatments, we take the time to deliver skillful services that produce the results you deserve. With the highest-quality materials, best laboratory services, and leading customer service, you can trust our team with your smile.
When is it too late to save a tooth?
In most cases of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, or dental trauma, a natural restoration is an effective solution. However, there are certain circumstances that will require a tooth to be extracted.
When is it too late to save a tooth? This might be required if any of the following occur:
- Severe dental trauma
- Excessive tooth decay
- Damaged oral cavity
Unhealthy habits, such as prolonged use of smoking products or illegal drugs, poor oral hygiene, and poor diet, can damage your oral cavity to the extent that an extraction is necessary.
If any of these issues occur and your dentist recommends extracting the problematic tooth, then it’s best to replace it to preserve your bone health and jaw structure. A dental implant is a titanium post that your dentist can surgically place in your jawbone to replace the root of one or more of your teeth.
The bone will bond with the implant and infuse it into place. Once this process occurs, your dentist will place an abutment on the implant, followed by a durable, beautiful, natural-looking crown, bridge, or denture.
Act today to save your natural teeth tomorrow.
The actions you take today can have positive or negative effects on your reality tomorrow. By prioritizing your dental health while you’re young, you can save your natural teeth as you age.
Besides looking great and helping you smile, your teeth also help you eat and speak. In addition, they help preserve your jawbone and face structure.
Our team can help you take control of your oral hygiene and create a firm foundation for your future. Complete our online form to schedule an appointment!
