Many people go years without worrying about their teeth. Every six months or so, they show up to their dentist, get an inspection and the all-clear and then go on their merry way, pain-free.
At some point, though, problems can inevitably start to creep in. For one reason or another, our teeth aren’t as resilient as they were when we were younger, leading to all kinds of painful dental problems.
The problem with teeth is that the cells that make them don’t renew throughout our lives, unlike practically every other tissue in the body. Instead, they’re stuck there, out on a limb, having to cope with the ravages of time without a break.
If you’re getting older, you may start to experience dental problems through no fault of your own. It’s not uncommon for people in their thirties and over to begin to see enamel erosion, problems with their gum line, and random, unexplained pain. In the worst-case scenario, these issues can combine and lead to tooth loss.
Your Teeth Take The Brunt Of Your Health Problems
A lot of species have teeth that periodically replace themselves, especially longer-lived varieties. Humans, however, don’t. Once our adult teeth come through in the pre-teen years, we’re stuck with them for life. The teeth we have at fifteen must continue to serve us well until we’re in our seventies, eighties, nineties, and beyond.
Historically, people didn’t usually live that long. Life was so harsh and unrelenting that most people never reached the age where dental wear became an issue. The average person was lucky to experience life beyond their thirtieth birthday, let alone their fiftieth.
It’s no wonder, therefore, that our teeth don’t last as long as we’d like. The world was a much harsher place in the past, and evolution didn’t need to give us teeth that would keep going for decades on end. What we have now was good enough for the time.
Teeth, however, take the brunt of health problems. Many medications for cholesterol and high blood pressure can damage the teeth through conditions such as “dry mouth.” The lack of saliva can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria, which weakens teeth and causes the gum line to recede.
Solutions To Teeth Problems
Fortunately, there is a range of solutions available to people of any age. Instasmile, for instance, now recommends that people who have lost teeth over the course of their lives use clip-on veneers. Instead of individually gluing bits of porcelain to the teeth, these stick-on products don’t require any extensive surgery. A dentist takes an impression of your mouth and then constructs a set of teeth you can wear discreetly if you’re missing any.
There’s also been plenty of advances in toothpaste too. Many companies now make products that re-mineralize the teeth, thickening the enamel and protecting it against age-related wear.
If your teeth are giving you problems, your best bet is to go to a dental professional. Modern technology can now fix pretty much any problem, giving you a better smile and increasing your confidence.
Another option for if your teeth - or a single tooth - are beyond repair, there’s always the option of having dental implants fitted. There are multiple benefits of dental implants compared to using dentures to replace missing teeth, including the fact that dental implants look and act more like natural teeth.
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