Care for one’s teeth is a major aspect of modern health, and failing to take care of the teeth may result in a mouth full of pain and expensive surgery at the dentist’s office, so everyday care of the teeth, as well as having a good dentist and visiting them every year, can go a long way to preventing any major tooth problems such as cavities, tooth decay, or cracked enamel or plaque build-up. For some patients, they will already have a major dental health issue, and in this case, they can visit their dentist for a specialized procedure like getting a dental implant put in, or a root canal or even tooth extraction if that becomes necessary. No one likes having painful and expensive tooth problems, but if there is an issue to face, going to the dentist and finding out tooth extraction cost or root canal cost is the best route to take for restoring dental health. Who gets a dental implant in their life, and when? What are basic methods of tooth care one can take in their lives?

A Dental Implant

Getting a dental implant is something that many Americans have done every year, and when done right, it can aid a person’s dental health and well-being. After scientific literature suggests that a success rate of 98% is the norm for getting dental implants, and this is a common procedure, too. It has been determined that about three million people have dental implants already, and that number may grow by 500,000 or so per year. Similarly, an estimated 69% of Americans aged 35 to 44 are missing at least one of their teeth, and every year, 25 million root canals are performed. Having access to a trusted and skilled dentist, and having good health insurance, can ensure that anyone who is suffering dental problems will be in good hands, and getting a root canal or a dental implant may be the way to fix their problem.

Basic Care

Taking care of one’s teeth, whether an adult or a child, is often simple and very affordable, and can go a long way to preventing expensive and painful tooth problems such as cracked enamel or tooth decay, or even gum disease. The baseline way to take care of one’s teeth is simply brushing them after every meal with a quality toothbrush and toothpaste, preferably toothpaste that contains fluoride to enhance the strength and health of one’s teeth. This removes the plaque from teeth and also gets rid of any and all germs and the food that they feed on, and this, backed up by flossing to get rid of food between the teeth (where toothbrushes can’t reach), and bacteria-killing mouthwash, can totally clear the mouth of anything that would threaten its health. Kids and adults alike should brush diligently, and sometimes, specialized toothpaste for kids or toothbrushes for people with sensitive mouths can be bought.

Good habits can also reinforce tooth health. A person must brush their teeth after every meal so that bacteria-feeding sugars do not sit on the teeth or get into the saliva, and a person should not chew on any hard items such as ice when eating, or in everyday life, since the pressure can crack and damage tooth enamel. A person playing sports or doing other rigorous activity may want to use a mouth guard that absorbs impacts so that teeth are not damaged in a collision. And on a similar note, taking care of teeth goes beyond toothbrushes and a dental implant; the appearance is also a factor.

Teeth play a large part in someone’s appearance, and discolored, crooked, or chipped teeth can present a bad image for social functions or other face to face contact, and bad teeth can even be a point of shame or embarrassment. This can even impact a person’s performance at a job interview or going for a promotion, so people often visit the dentist’s office for simple tooth whitening services. Commercially available tooth-whitening toothpaste is also out there for anyone who wants it. Retainers and other products may also be used for aligning teeth that are crooked or crowding each other to further enhance someone’s smile.