8 Common Causes Of Missing Teeth In Adults

If you were to ask 100 dentists to give a reason why teeth might fall out, the vast majority of answers are likely to be related to patients not taking care of their teeth properly. Whilst these id certainly one of the primary causes of teeth falling out, you might be surprised to learn that there are many, many more. We cannot list every single one of them, but to get you started, here are 8 common causes of tooth loss in adults.

Bone Deterioration: Obviously, we are speaking here about the jawbone in which your teeth would normally be strongly secured when it is healthy. However, if your jawbone’s density starts to deteriorate, which can happen for a number of health reasons, then your teeth can become loose, making them, more prone to falling out.

Not Flossing: Dentists often hear patients strenuously claim that they brush their teeth regularly, however, despite what you might think, brushing is normally not enough. In addition, you should be flossing as this will remove any stubborn fragments of food which brushing misses, plus flossing removes dental plaque, which attacks the gums, and damaged gums can mean loose teeth.

Diabetes: Sadly, diabetes can lead to a number of additional health issues, and that includes some in relation to our dental health. Research shows that if someone is diabetic, then they are almost 1.5 times more likely to require a tooth extraction, than those without diabetes.

Xerostomia: Although it sounds more like a planet you’d hear of in Star Trek, it is in fact a condition that results in a person having a persistently dry mouth, often as result of an inability to produce sufficient amounts of saliva. As you may know, saliva has anti-bacterial qualities which helps get rid of infections within your mouth, where the gums and teeth are put at risk if the infection is not dealt with.

Accidents: Your dentist could likely list dozens of accidents that their patients have endured which has led to one or more teeth being knocked out. You obviously cannot predict every accident, but you can take some precautions to minimise the risk of losing teeth by wearing the appropriate protective equipment when playing sports, in the workplace, or when taking part in dangerous hobbies.

Smoking: For the smokers who are reading this, you have no doubt been given loads of reasons why you should stop, and we are about to add another, which is it increases the risk of you losing teeth. In fact, it has been shown that those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day are twice as likely to lose teeth than those who do not smoke.

Pregnancy: Although the anticipation of having a new child is wonderful, any pregnant mother will tell you that the 9 months leading to that joyous moment is no bed of roses. With the many biological changes that occur in an expectant mother’s body, the immune system can be compromised, and thus the risk of oral infection is greater, which, in the worst cases, could lead to tooth loss.

Digestive Issues: There are certain digestive conditions that can occur, which have the potential to create issues within your mouth, including tooth loss. One example of this is acid reflux, which if persistent and untreated can create an excess amount of acid within your mouth, which in turn can create cavities in your teeth, weakening them, and leading to them falling out.