There's a popular saying, "Dentures are for other people." Most people, when asked, say they will never need dentures because they take good care of their teeth. The reality is that more people wear dentures than you might think, and that number increases each year. The following are signs that you could be a candidate for dentures.
You don't visit your dentist at least twice a year.
The truth is some people hate sitting in the dentist chair. Others may not visit the dentist due to a lack of insurance. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year is critical to combat gum disease and tooth decay: two of the main reasons people lose their teeth. Statistics indicates that a little less than half of Americans even visit the dentist at least once a year. When dental problems are small, they're easy to fix. When they're advanced, teeth may need to be extracted.
Your gums are red and swollen.
Red or swollen gums can be signs of early-stage gingivitis. Gum disease is the reason more than 70% of adults lose their teeth. Tooth loss affects more than 75% of the population at some point in their life. However, gum disease isn't an automatic prediction that a person needs dentures. Curing red and swollen gums can often be as simple as proper teeth cleaning at the dentist.
You have shifting teeth.
If you teeth are shifting, or the gaps between them widen, gum disease could be the reason. Gum disease can spread rapidly because it's difficult to detect at first. Widening gaps in the teeth may require extensive periodontal treatment.
You have a painful toothache.
Toothaches are painful, and they remove all doubt that a tooth has decayed to the point at which a nerve has been exposed. Simple fillings are an easy and early remedy. Wait too long, and the only remedy is a visit to the dentist. Remember, once that tooth is gone, it's gone for good.
Several teeth are already missing.
There's a tendency to overlook the fact that when one or more teeth are missing, the rest of the teeth are forced to work harder. Harder work for the remaining teeth places them at risk for cavities. It's common for people to think that missing teeth in the back of their mouths have no effect on teeth in the front of their mouths.
