The idea that losing teeth is an inevitable part of aging is a common misconception. While it’s true that tooth loss occurs more frequently among older adults, it’s not a foregone conclusion. With proper oral care and preventive measures, you can keep your natural teeth healthy and strong well into your later years.
Why Tooth Loss Occurs
Tooth loss can be caused by various factors, including:
Gum disease: This is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is an infection that affects the soft tissues around the teeth, eventually destroying the bone that supports them.
Tooth decay: This is caused by bacteria that build up on the teeth and form plaque. Plaque produces acids that can erode the enamel, the hard outer covering of the teeth. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to cavities and eventually tooth loss.
Trauma: Injuries to the mouth or teeth can also cause tooth loss.
Other health conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis and diabetes, can increase the risk of tooth loss.
Preventive Measures
The good news is that you can take steps to prevent tooth loss and maintain healthy teeth for a lifetime. Here are some key strategies:
Practice good oral hygiene: This includes brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing daily, and using a mouthwash.
Visit your dentist regularly: For professional cleanings and checkups.
Eat a healthy diet: Limit sugary foods and drinks, which can contribute to tooth decay.
Quit smoking: Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and other oral health problems.
In addition to these general recommendations, there are some specific things you can do to protect your teeth as you age:
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles: Hard bristles can damage your gums and enamel.
Consider using an electric toothbrush: Electric toothbrushes can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria than manual toothbrushes.
Get regular fluoride treatments: Fluoride can help strengthen your teeth and prevent decay.
Myths about Tooth Loss and Aging
There are several common myths about tooth loss and aging. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
Myth: Losing teeth is a natural part of aging.
Fact: While tooth loss is more common among older adults, it’s not inevitable. With proper oral care, you can keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
Myth: You don’t need to see the dentist as often as you get older.
Fact: It’s important to continue seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, even as you get older. Regular dental care can help detect and prevent problems early on.
Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent tooth loss.
Fact: There are many things you can do to prevent tooth loss, including practicing good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, and quitting smoking.
Losing teeth doesn’t have to be a part of aging. With proper care and preventive measures, you can enjoy a healthy smile for a lifetime. Talk to your dentist about ways to keep your teeth healthy and strong as you age.
Can a Tooth Infection Kill You? The Scary Truth About Dental Abscesses
People often ask, “Can a tooth infection kill you?” The answer, while alarming, is yes—if left untreated. What starts as a simple toothache can escalate into a dangerous dental abscess that spreads beyond the mouth, potentially becoming life-threatening.
In this post from our Weird Dental Facts series, we’ll explain how dental infections can turn deadly, the warning signs to look for, and what you can do to protect your health.
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How Can a Tooth Infection Become Life-Threatening?
A toothache might feel like a small problem, but if the underlying infection isn’t treated, it can spread. When bacteria enter the inner pulp of the tooth, they can create an abscess—a pocket of pus that may expand into the jaw, face, or even the bloodstream, leading to a condition called sepsis.
Untreated periodontal disease(gum disease) can also lead to abscess formation. The danger is that dental infections are not always painful in their early stages, causing many people to delay treatment until it’s too late.
What Is Ludwig’s Angina?
One of the most serious complications of an untreated dental infection is Ludwig’s Angina. This fast-spreading infection can travel from the roots of the teeth to the floor of the mouth and under the tongue, causing severe swelling. If the swelling blocks the airway or makes swallowing difficult, it becomes a medical emergency.
Immediate medical treatment—such as opening the airway, administering antibiotics, or even surgery—is often required to save a patient’s life. Delaying treatment can be fatal.
How Dental Infections Spread Beyond the Mouth
When bacteria from a tooth infection enter the bloodstream, they can travel to other parts of the body. In rare but severe cases, this can lead to heart infections (endocarditis), brain abscesses, or even sepsis. These complications highlight why early dental care is crucial—what starts as mild pain or swelling can spiral into a medical crisis if ignored.
Signs of a Serious Dental Infection
See a dentist right away if you notice any of the following warning signs:
Persistent or throbbing toothache
Swelling in the face, jaw, or under the tongue
Fever or general malaise
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
A foul taste or pus drainage in the mouth
How to Prevent Dangerous Dental Infections
The best way to avoid asking, “Can a tooth infection kill you?” is to take preventive steps:
Brush and floss daily to remove harmful bacteria.
See your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings.
Limit sugary foods and drinks that feed harmful bacteria.
Boost your immune system with a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and D.
Never ignore a toothache, swelling, or signs of infection—early treatment is much safer and less costly.
FAQ: Can a Toothache Really Be Fatal?
Can a toothache kill you? A toothache itself won’t, but if the infection behind it spreads untreated, it can become deadly.
How fast can a dental infection spread? Some infections can progress in just a few days, especially if they move into the soft tissues of the neck or bloodstream.
What should I do if I suspect an abscess? See a dentist or doctor immediately. Do not attempt to drain it yourself—this can worsen the infection.
Key Takeaway
A tooth infection can, in rare cases, be fatal if left untreated. Don’t take chances with your health—seek professional dental care at the first sign of pain or swelling.
For more surprising dental trivia and health tips, visit our Weird Dental Factsarchive.
How Do I Know If My Tooth Infection Is Spreading?
Wondering if your dental issue is becoming serious? A key sign of a spreading infection is pain that worsens or radiates to the jaw, ear, or neck. Swelling in the face or under the tongue, difficulty breathing, fever, or a foul taste in your mouth are all red flags. If you’re asking, “can a tooth infection kill you?” the answer is that severe infections can become life-threatening if they block your airway or enter the bloodstream. Don’t wait—seek professional help immediately.
Very often patients ask me about what toothpaste they should use. Seldom, however, am I asked about the best technique for cleaning teeth, when brushing should be done, how often they should brush, or for how long.
The subject of tooth cleansers can be confusing. There are pastes, powders, cavity-fighting and gum-protecting formulas, as well as whitening varieties. Most toothpastes use some form of mild abrasive to clean teeth, while others rely on enzymes to lift the stains out of your teeth. Some are foaming and some are not. Most contain fluoride, while others don’t.
While I do have a personal favorite toothpaste, I honestly believe that an effective job of cleaning can be accomplished with the vast majority of toothpastes available on the market. Why are there so many out there? In a word: marketing. I’m pretty sure toothpaste companies have discovered that if a toothpaste has the word “whitening” on it, they are likely to sell more than if it is omitted — even if the whitening benefit is small.
Some people have even taken to the idea that almost anything will work to clean your teeth. Even soap. Here is a short video I ran across recently that discusses this, and also why you may not want to wash your mouth out with soap. I tend to agree that you should use the right product for the correct purpose.
Click on the toothbrushes below to view the VIDEO:
For the curious, here is an earlier posting that answers some of the other questions discussed above, including how often you should brush.
Effects of Soda on Teeth: Why You Should Save Your Smile
Do you ever stop to think about what happens every time you drink a soda? Many people don’t realize how damaging these sugary, acidic drinks are to their teeth—and the rest of their health. At your last dental checkup, did you find yourself sinking lower in the chair as cavity after cavity was found? If so, it’s time to ask yourself: how much soda are you drinking? The effects of soda on teeth are both immediate and long-term, and they’re more harmful than you might imagine.
Sugar and Acid: A Double Threat
Some of the worst cases of dental decay I’ve seen involve sodas and sweetened iced teas. A single 12 oz. can of soda contains roughly 12 teaspoons of sugar—basically liquid sugar! Read ingredient labels carefully for added syrups, concentrates, or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—they all spell trouble for your teeth. According to the CDC, most Americans still consume far too many sugar-sweetened drinks, significantly increasing their risk of tooth decay.
Imagine watching someone stir 12 teaspoons of sugar into one cup of coffee—you’d be horrified! Yet most people drink cans, bottles, or even liters of soda daily without a second thought. The sugar feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth, producing acids that erode enamel and create the perfect conditions for cavities.
How Soda Causes Cavities Step-by-Step
The process is surprisingly fast. First, sugar in soda feeds bacteria that naturally live in your mouth. These bacteria produce acid as a byproduct. Combine that with the already acidic nature of soda itself, and you’re essentially giving your teeth a continuous acid bath. Over time, the enamel weakens, leading to cavities, sensitivity, and tooth decay. Even sugar-free sodas can cause enamel erosion because of their high acidity. The American Dental Association warns that frequent soda consumption dramatically increases your risk of long-term enamel loss.
The Acid Bath You Didn’t Expect
Sugar isn’t the only villain. Soda is so acidic that it can loosen rusty bolts or clean battery terminals—imagine that on your tooth enamel! This acid eats away at the protective outer layer, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Once enamel is gone, it doesn’t grow back. These effects of soda on teeth can happen faster than you think.
Beyond Your Mouth: Whole-Body Effects
Reducing soda benefits more than just your teeth. Frequent soda consumption has been linked to diabetes, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and even low potassium levels, which can lead to muscle weakness. Your body—and your dentist—will thank you when you swap soda for healthier alternatives.
What to Do Instead
If giving up soda feels difficult, start by cutting back slowly. Replace one soda a day with water, unsweetened sparkling water, or herbal tea. If you need help breaking the sugar habit, talk to your doctor or dentist. There are many ways to transition away from these harmful drinks while still enjoying refreshing beverages.
FAQ About Soda and Teeth
Does soda cause permanent damage to teeth? Yes, once enamel is eroded by the acids in soda, it cannot regrow. This makes teeth more prone to cavities and sensitivity.
Is diet soda safer for your teeth? Not really. While diet sodas lack sugar, they are still highly acidic and can erode enamel over time. Water and unsweetened alternatives are far better choices.
How quickly can soda damage teeth? Enamel softening can begin within just 20 minutes of exposure to soda. Sipping it throughout the day keeps your teeth under constant attack. This is one reason why the effects of soda on teeth are so harmful over time.
Key Takeaway
Cutting back on soda—or better yet, eliminating it—may be one of the best steps you can take for your oral and overall health. The effects of soda on teeth are well-documented: enamel erosion, cavities, and long-term dental problems. Don’t let this common habit rob you of your smile.
For more tips on protecting your teeth, visit our ToothWiz Blog page.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the formation of dental cavities. One fundamental that will apply to most everyone concerns the reduction of dental plaque. If you want fewer cavities, reduce your plaque levels.
Dental plaque can be defined as a complex microbial community, with greater than 10 to the 10th power bacteria per milligram. (That’s really a lot of bacteria.) Just to keep things simple, though, the problem is that these bacteria produce acids on your teeth – and the acids dissolve the enamel, leading to tooth decay.
After only a few years of practice, it became obvious to me that most people have difficulty identifying plaque. Even now, I’ll begin a dental exam or cleaning on a person and start removing large areas of plaque. If I casually ask the patient about their cleaning regimen, often I’m told “I brushed just before I came in here!”
Since that much plaque can’t form in an hour, the obvious conclusion is that the patient missed it or simply doesn’t see it. Just to be clear, plaque is the soft, sticky film that occurs on the surface of teeth – not the hard substance your dentist or hygienist has to pick away, which is tartar. Though it is basically mineralized plaque, virtually no amount of tooth brushing and flossing will remove tartar after the fact (dentists call it ‘calculus’). Once formed, calculus needs to be removed at your office visit.
It is useful to know that if you control your plaque well, calculus won’t be much of a problem. So let’s focus on that for a moment. What do you do if you feel you are brushing, but the dentist tells you he still sees plaque? Stain it!
Lately, I have been seeing more commercials advertising products for children that stain their teeth blue after they have rinsed with it. The child then brushes until all of the blue stain has been removed. What the liquid is staining is plaque. I think this is a great way to simplify the process of identifying the problem. Whether you are six or sixty, the principle is the same.
If you want to be certain you have gotten the plaque off, rinse with the stain after each meal and then brush (and floss) until you have removed the discolored areas. Barring other systemic or external contributory factors (such as medications leading to a dry mouth), you and your dentist should see a big improvement in the cleanliness of your mouth, and fewer cavities over time!
Recently, a great deal of attention has been placed on economizing in all different aspects of life. Some people have even considered cutting back in the area of health care by putting off routine maintenance care. While this is a little like playing Russian roulette when it comes to dental health — for reasons I’ll explain shortly — there may be a better way to dodge the financial bullet. And it may be a much simpler one.
After more than twenty years of practice I have seen people consider all sorts of ideas to deal with rising dental costs. Often, people become fixated upon dental insurance as the primary solution to the majority of their dental needs. Because dental insurance generally tends to be pretty expensive relative to what it pays out, especially if you are buying it yourself, patients that rely on it exclusively often end up worse than when they started. Dental insurance typically has waiting periods before it can be used, during which time existing conditions advance, becoming more expensive.
In these cases, you have to wonder – if the premiums are costing you more than what the company pays you back – what’s the point? Obviously, this arrangement is a much better deal for the insurance company than for the patient. Let’s also consider that when I first started practice, dental insurance maximums averaged $1,000 to $2,000 annually. Twenty years later, they average . . . $1,000 to $2,000 annually. If insurance kept up with inflation alone, the annual maximum should easily be over $5,000. Don’t hold your breath for that one though. Patients would be better off just setting aside the amount they pay for premiums. They usually come out better in the end.
Putting off dental care often becomes more costly to patients for several reasons. Firstly, many dental conditions are actually painless in the early stages. Periodontal disease is a prime example. This is a condition in which the bone surrounding the teeth becomes lost, leading to a variety of circumstances including bleeding gums, loose teeth, bad breath and, eventually, tooth loss. It is the number one reason that people loose teeth world-wide. For the most part, it doesn’t hurt. When it does, if it does, it is usually too late. The tooth or teeth have to come out.
Likewise, dental decay usually doesn’t hurt in the early stage. Actually, I’ve lost count of the number of times it didn’t hurt in the advanced stage either – but this is usually the point at which the patient becomes aware of a problem. A piece of the tooth breaks off, or they actually experience pain. The tragedy of this scenario is that when it reaches this stage teeth often end up requiring more expensive root canal therapy or extraction. Dental costs can very quickly escalate as much as ten times from the cost of a simple filling to what it costs to complete a root canal and crown.
So what do you do? Focus upon prevention.
Here is a true story I hope will leave as big impression upon you as it did me at the time:
When I was a dental student, I recall a lecture give by one of my professors in which he made a powerful point on the subject of prevention. The seminar dealt with the subject of prosthetics – more specifically, the fabrication of crowns and bridges. This professor, however, was one of those rare dentists who actually had two recognized specialties. He was a professor of prosthetics, but he was also a periodontist. While this was a crown and bridge lecture, he taught us a very valuable periodontal lesson.
Here’s what he did. The seminar was pretty informal at this point. The professor told us he was going to put up some slides of patients and have us guess their ages – just by looking at their x-rays and then at pictures of their gums. As a student, I remember thinking this was a refreshing little game and most of the class was doing quite well calling out the ages. Looking at the x-rays, we would evaluate bone levels, tooth eruption patterns, tooth wear, number of restorations and similar factors to make our “guess.” Then we would look at the color and texture of the gums and appearance of the smile and offer up our estimate. The professor would then show us the face of the patient and tell us their age. This went on for a while and we all did pretty well.
He then put up the next slides and guesses rang out: “twenty-five,” “thirty,” “twenty-seven,” went the typical guesses. I don’t think I can remember seeing a single filling on those slides, though there could have been. Nothing changed when he showed us a picture of the gums. They looked like a teen-ager’s. Then he put up a picture of the face. The person pictured was obviously in their late seventies, maybe even early eighties.
Dead silence. Then there was a small commotion and most of the class pointed out that the slides got mixed up.
The professor paused, and said “No. This is correct. Let me tell you how I can be sure. This is a picture of my father. Those are actual x-rays and a recent picture of his gums. How is it that he has such excellent oral health?”
He then went on to tell us how when his father was a younger man, he had a visit with his dentist and he complained to him that whenever he ate, he would get food stuck between his teeth. His father wanted to know if there was anything he could do about it, because it was pretty annoying.
The dad’s dentist thought about it for a second and told him: “Well, I’ll tell you what I do when that happens to me. I go over to my wife’s sewing kit and take out a piece of silk thread and just pass it between my teeth.” As a student, I wondered when floss became invented. Evidently, it just wasn’t popular back in those days.
In any case, our professor went on to explain that his father did exactly that after every meal since he was a young man. His gums, teeth and bone levels were almost unchanged. That’s what he had to show for his efforts.
I filed the image in the back of my mind, but I have to be honest – I didn’t exercise the same level of commitment – just yet.
Oh, sure, I brushed, watched what I ate, and took vitamin and mineral supplements. But my flossing was sporadic. That is, until I really started looking at what happened to my patients and how those who flossed performed against those who didn’t. If you asked me today: do I floss regularly? Absolutely. You can’t buy cheaper dental insurance.
Flossing benefits your gums, your breath, your teeth, your lungs, your heart – in short, you.
Do you know that probably up to a third of the cavities I treat happen between the teeth? This is why regular exams are so important. You simply can’t see this area. For that matter, without x-rays, neither can I in most cases. But my point here is simply this: even if you brush after every meal and snack, without flossing this area never gets cleaned. Why would anyone become surprised that an area that never got cleaned could decay over time?
There are all sorts of reasons people don’t like to floss, but the reasons to do it are actually pretty compelling and very cost-effective. Think it over. Maybe floss is the most affordable dental insurance. . . .
When we are born we come into the world without teeth. Some of us leave the same way, but that really isn’t what nature intended.
When you are on a liquid diet having teeth doesn’t appear to be vital, since there is obviously nothing to chew. Nature pretty much handles a baby’s nutritional needs with mother’s milk. As we grow and begin to eat solid food, however, having and maintaining healthy teeth becomes an entirely different matter.
So when teeth become lost due to cavities, periodontal disease or trauma, the consequences for good health can become significant. Let’s not forget that digestion begins in the mouth. There are actually two forms of digestion – mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical digestion is the grinding and tearing of food, as in chewing, in order to increase its surface area. Creating a greater surface area means that there is a better chance that chemical digestion can do its job. In chemical digestion, enzymes react with the food to help break it down into simpler substances which can either be absorbed in the bloodstream as nutrients or passed out of the body as waste. This process of breakdown and assimilation occurs within the digestive tract – but it starts in the mouth with your teeth, tongue, and saliva.
Because a full set of adult teeth numbers thirty-two, it seems many people feel the occasional loss of a tooth is a relatively insignificant event. And while it is true that a person can still function with thirty-one, the long-term consequence of losing just one tooth can be more significant than most people realize.
While all of our teeth are important, structurally, the loss of certain teeth will bring about more change than the loss of others. Think of this in terms of the walls of your house. If you take down a non-supporting wall, the house will still stand. Take out a supporting wall, however, and you have a much bigger problem. Teeth are constructed much like an arch, though. If you have ever seen a stone arch, you know it has a keystone at the top that keeps the arch together. Remove that one stone, and the whole thing collapses. In your dental arch, you can think of your canines as a keystone. Lose them, and the ensuing change can be rapid. You can lose several teeth – even all – over time. But it’s not just the loss of canines that creates a problem.
Losing a first molar, for example, can create a domino effect of changes in your mouth that can affect your ability to chew easily. It can cause shifting of the teeth in a manner that even affects the appearance of your front teeth. Or, it can lead to periodontal problems and the formation of cavities on portions of the teeth that might not have been otherwise affected before the loss.
The point is that if you lose a tooth, you should consult your dentist about what tooth replacement options are right for you. Today, we have many ways of providing functional replacements that can improve your ability to chew your food, maintain your good appearance, and keep you from losing still more teeth. Depending upon your circumstances and financial considerations, these replacements may include removable dentures, bridges (which are non-removable, cemented tooth replacements), or dental implants (think of them as artificial tooth-roots that have crowns, bridges, or dentures attached to them).
If you are missing a tooth, speak with your dentist about what tooth replacement options are right for your situation. Replacing a lost tooth early is often much less involved (and costly) than when you begin to experience the problems resulting from long-term neglect.
Dr. Richard Walicki is a dentist practicing general and cosmetic dentistry. While we hope you find the information contained herein interesting and useful, this blog is for informational purposes and is not intended to diagnose any oral disease. Dental conditions should be evaluated by your dental health professional or a qualified specialist.
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