What is Dental Bone Loss?
If you know how common tooth loss is in adults, then you will not be surprised to know how common dental bone loss is. When gum disease progresses from gingivitis to periodontal disease, then bacteria inflaming the gums loosens the teeth and starts to affect the bone supporting the teeth. After the bone deteriorates, you can lose your tooth and have an increased chance of losing the surrounding teeth due to the affected bone.
Dental bone loss does not just affect adults with gum disease, it affects people of all ages and even people with otherwise healthy teeth. It is most common in older people, but it does not have an age requirement.
Dental bone loss is like bone loss in other parts of your body but your jaw loses density in certain places. The bone that is responsible for helping hold your teeth in place is shrinking and able to keep your teeth securely in their original spot. Instead, your teeth may loosen, slide away from each other and lead to changes in your bite. The loss of bone in your jaw can also lead to shrinking of your gums which also support your teeth and hold them in place.
Without a dental examination, how do you know if you are suffering from dental bone loss? You may notice a few symptoms when you are brushing your teeth. If you notice that your gums are swollen, red, or even bleeding, you may have some untreated gum disease. If your gums have started to pull away from your teeth and more of your teeth are exposed than they had been, then your gums may be showing signs of advanced gum disease. Bone loss is a common symptom of gum disease that has not been treated and that is progressing to a point where permanent damage is possible. Once you have noted these changes to your gums and teeth, you will want to make an appointment with the dentist. You will need professional treatment to stop it from getting worse and you may be able to avoid losing any teeth as a result. Other signs to look out for when you think you may be experiencing bone loss in your jaw are bad breath, wiggly teeth, or tender gums.
The most common reasons why people experience bone loss in their jaws are tooth loss and advanced gum disease. Other people can experience dental bone loss as a result of a traumatic accident. While you can try to keep your regular dental appointments and you can wear mouth guards to protect your teeth when you are participating in sports, there’s another action you can take to help your overall oral health as well as prevent potential dental bone loss: quit smoking. The years of research and evidence of the detrimental health effects of smoking are already known to smokers and nonsmokers alike. But the evidence that people who use tobacco products are more likely to suffer from gum disease and to have dental bone loss are not as common as the threats of lung cancer and emphysema. In fact, people who smoke are more likely to have gum disease and have more problematic results from their gum disease. Nicotine can restrict the blood vessels and when the gums are inflamed from bacteria, gum disease can advance quickly.
If you have a missing tooth that is leading to bone loss, a dental implant may be an option to help prevent bone loss.