Why should I brush my teeth twice a day and get them professionally cleaned every six months?
We have learned that without brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly, gum disease is inevitable. Gum diseases can range from bleeding and swelling of the gums (gingivitis) to loss of bone around the teeth (periodontitis). Gingivitis is reversible through improving brushing and professional cleaning, and the gums can be restored to health quickly. On the other hand, periodontitis is irreversible; once bone is lost, it's gone. However, depending on the severity of periodontitis, teeth and gums can still be restored to health.
Advanced gum diseases involving the jawbone will result in loosening of the teeth, bite collapse, and difficulties with chewing. In most cases, teeth will fall out by themselves, starting with the back teeth. As the disease progresses, the front teeth will start to migrate forward and gaps will develop. Also, the teeth will appear long as the gums recede to follow the shrinking bone.
The above picture is an example of how one arrives at tooth loss and having full dentures. In this case, the top teeth need to be extracted and replaced with a full removable denture. Alternatively, 4–8 dental implants can be placed to secure a denture to the jaw, a process that is very costly and still cannot be guaranteed to be a success in the long term. Therefore, natural teeth are by far the best teeth one will have, provided they are religiously brushed twice a day, flossed once a day, and cleaned every 6 months by your dental professional. Committing to the above three steps will ensure retention of teeth for life and reduce expenses associated with dental care.