TTTThehehehe MostMostMostMost CommonCommonCommonCommon CausesCausesCausesCauses ofofofof ToothToothToothTooth LossLossLossLoss

ThisThisThisThis shareshareshareshare providesprovidesprovidesprovides aaaa comprehensivecomprehensivecomprehensivecomprehensive overviewoverviewoverviewoverview ofofofofthethethethe variousvariousvariousvarious factorsfactorsfactorsfactors andandandand risksrisksrisksrisks thatthatthatthat cancancancan leadleadleadlead totototo toothtoothtoothtooth

loss.loss.loss.loss.

BeingBeingBeingBeing edentulousedentulousedentulousedentulous (without(without(without(without anyanyanyany teethteethteethteeth atatatat all)all)all)all) isisisis somethingsomethingsomethingsomething wewewewe tendtendtendtend totototoassociateassociateassociateassociate withwithwithwith elderlyelderlyelderlyelderly peoplepeoplepeoplepeople andandandand whilewhilewhilewhile ourourourour teethteethteethteeth dodododo tendtendtendtend totototo succumbsuccumbsuccumbsuccumbtotototo wearwearwearwear andandandand decaydecaydecaydecay thethethethe olderolderolderolder wewewewe get,get,get,get, withwithwithwith thethethethe rightrightrightright carecarecarecare andandandandmaintenance,maintenance,maintenance,maintenance, itititit isisisis possiblepossiblepossiblepossible forforforfor youryouryouryour naturalnaturalnaturalnatural teethteethteethteeth totototo lastlastlastlast youyouyouyou aaaalifetime.lifetime.lifetime.lifetime.

Yes,Yes,Yes,Yes, toothtoothtoothtooth losslosslossloss isisisis somethingsomethingsomethingsomething thatthatthatthattypicallytypicallytypicallytypically happenshappenshappenshappens withwithwithwith ageageageage.... BBBBututututwhatwhatwhatwhat mostmostmostmost peoplepeoplepeoplepeople dondondondon’’’’tttt realizerealizerealizerealize isisisisthatthatthatthat ageageageage alonealonealonealone isisisis notnotnotnot reallyreallyreallyreally totototoblame.blame.blame.blame. ItItItIt’’’’ssss thethethethe accumulativeaccumulativeaccumulativeaccumulativelifelonglifelonglifelonglifelong effectseffectseffectseffects ofofofof hygienehygienehygienehygiene neglect,neglect,neglect,neglect,certaincertaincertaincertain habits,habits,habits,habits, suchsuchsuchsuch asasasas smoking,smoking,smoking,smoking, ororororeveneveneveneven chronicchronicchronicchronic medicationsmedicationsmedicationsmedications andandandandgenetics.genetics.genetics.genetics. ThereThereThereThere areareareare manymanymanymany reasonsreasonsreasonsreasonsteethteethteethteeth cancancancan gogogogo missingmissingmissingmissing orororor needneedneedneed totototo bebebebeextracted.extracted.extracted.extracted. WhileWhileWhileWhile theretheretherethere areareareare dentaldentaldentaldental implantimplantimplantimplant techniquestechniquestechniquestechniques thatthatthatthat cancancancan givegivegivegive patientspatientspatientspatients newnewnewnewteethteethteethteeth inininin oneoneoneone day,day,day,day, nothingnothingnothingnothing cancancancan reallyreallyreallyreally rivalrivalrivalrival youryouryouryour ownownownown naturalnaturalnaturalnatural teeth.teeth.teeth.teeth.

TheTheTheTheMostMostMostMost CommonCommonCommonCommon CausesCausesCausesCauses ofofofof ToothToothToothTooth LossLossLossLoss are:are:are:are:

���� AccidentalAccidentalAccidentalAccidental TraumaTraumaTraumaTrauma���� ToothToothToothTooth DecayDecayDecayDecay andandandand DentalDentalDentalDental CariesCariesCariesCaries���� GumGumGumGumDiseaseDiseaseDiseaseDisease���� CertainCertainCertainCertain IllnessesIllnessesIllnessesIllnesses���� CertainCertainCertainCertain ChronicChronicChronicChronicMedicationsMedicationsMedicationsMedications���� SmokingSmokingSmokingSmoking andandandand TobaccoTobaccoTobaccoTobacco UseUseUseUse���� ExcessiveExcessiveExcessiveExcessive AlcoholAlcoholAlcoholAlcohol UseUseUseUse���� DrugDrugDrugDrug AbuseAbuseAbuseAbuse���� EatingEatingEatingEating DisordersDisordersDisordersDisorders

AccidentalAccidentalAccidentalAccidental TraumaTraumaTraumaTrauma

TheTheTheThe firstfirstfirstfirst ofofofof thethethethe manymanymanymany reasonsreasonsreasonsreasons teethteethteethteethcancancancan gogogogo missingmissingmissingmissing isisisis accidentalaccidentalaccidentalaccidental trauma,trauma,trauma,trauma,whichwhichwhichwhich describesdescribesdescribesdescribes anyanyanyany physicalphysicalphysicalphysical harmharmharmharmorororor damagedamagedamagedamage thatthatthatthat isisisis receivedreceivedreceivedreceived totototo thethethethefacefacefaceface andandandand mouthmouthmouthmouth inininin somethingsomethingsomethingsomething asasasasseriousseriousseriousserious asasasas aaaa carcarcarcar orororor sportingsportingsportingsporting accident.accident.accident.accident.ItItItIt cancancancan alsoalsoalsoalso comecomecomecome fromfromfromfrom somethingsomethingsomethingsomething asasasasinnocuousinnocuousinnocuousinnocuous asasasas bitingbitingbitingbiting downdowndowndown hardhardhardhard onononon aaaapeachpeachpeachpeach pit.pit.pit.pit. EitherEitherEitherEither way,way,way,way, ifififif thethethethe damagedamagedamagedamageisisisis extensiveextensiveextensiveextensive andandandand leavesleavesleavesleaves thethethethe pulppulppulppulpchamberchamberchamberchamber and/orand/orand/orand/or rootrootrootroot ofofofof thethethethe toothtoothtoothtooth exposedexposedexposedexposed viaviaviavia aaaa crack,crack,crack,crack, chipchipchipchip orororor fracture,fracture,fracture,fracture, extractionextractionextractionextractionmaymaymaymay bebebebe required,required,required,required, ifififif thethethethe toothtoothtoothtooth hasnhasnhasnhasn’’’’tttt beenbeenbeenbeen ““““knockedknockedknockedknocked outoutoutout”””” entirely.entirely.entirely.entirely.

WhatWhatWhatWhat cancancancan bebebebe donedonedonedone totototo avoidavoidavoidavoid it?it?it?it?

""""IfIfIfIf youyouyouyou playplayplayplay contactcontactcontactcontact sports,sports,sports,sports, itititit isisisis essentialessentialessentialessential thatthatthatthat youyouyouyou wearwearwearwear aaaa mouthmouthmouthmouth guardguardguardguard totototoprotectprotectprotectprotect youryouryouryour teethteethteethteeth andandandand gums,gums,gums,gums,”””” explainsexplainsexplainsexplains aaaa dentaldentaldentaldental implantsimplantsimplantsimplants surgeon.surgeon.surgeon.surgeon. ““““ManyManyManyManyprofessionalprofessionalprofessionalprofessional boxers,boxers,boxers,boxers, footballfootballfootballfootball andandandand hockeyhockeyhockeyhockey playersplayersplayersplayers loseloseloselose oneoneoneone orororor moremoremoremore ofofofof theirtheirtheirtheir teethteethteethteethduringduringduringduring theirtheirtheirtheir careerscareerscareerscareers asasasas aaaa resultresultresultresult ofofofof gettinggettinggettinggetting smackedsmackedsmackedsmacked inininin thethethethe mouth.mouth.mouth.mouth.””””

ToothToothToothTooth DecayDecayDecayDecay andandandandDentalDentalDentalDental CariesCariesCariesCaries

PerhapsPerhapsPerhapsPerhaps thethethethe mostmostmostmost commoncommoncommoncommon reasonreasonreasonreason behindbehindbehindbehind toothtoothtoothtooth losslosslossloss isisisis toothtoothtoothtooth decay.decay.decay.decay. YourYourYourYour mouthmouthmouthmouthisisisis fullfullfullfull ofofofof bacteriabacteriabacteriabacteria andandandand thethethethe longerlongerlongerlonger thethethethe timetimetimetime youyouyouyou leaveleaveleaveleave betweenbetweenbetweenbetween brushingbrushingbrushingbrushing andandandandflossingflossingflossingflossing youryouryouryour teeth,teeth,teeth,teeth, thethethethe longerlongerlongerlonger thesethesethesethese microorganismsmicroorganismsmicroorganismsmicroorganisms areareareare allowedallowedallowedallowed totototo multiply.multiply.multiply.multiply.BacteriaBacteriaBacteriaBacteria feedfeedfeedfeed uponuponuponupon thethethethe foodfoodfoodfood debrisdebrisdebrisdebris andandandand necroticnecroticnecroticnecrotic tissuestissuestissuestissues thatthatthatthat accumulateaccumulateaccumulateaccumulate inininin youryouryouryourmouthmouthmouthmouth andandandand thethethethe wasteswasteswasteswastes thatthatthatthat theytheytheythey produceproduceproduceproduce areareareare highhighhighhigh inininin acidityacidityacidityacidity.... ThisThisThisThis irritatesirritatesirritatesirritates thethethethegumsgumsgumsgums andandandand erodeserodeserodeserodes awayawayawayaway atatatat thethethethe dentaldentaldentaldental enamelenamelenamelenamel formingformingformingforming cavities.cavities.cavities.cavities.

WhatWhatWhatWhat cancancancan bebebebe donedonedonedone totototo avoidavoidavoidavoid it?it?it?it?

GoodGoodGoodGood oraloraloraloral hygiene,hygiene,hygiene,hygiene, regularregularregularregular visitsvisitsvisitsvisits totototo thethethethe dentistdentistdentistdentist andandandand professionalprofessionalprofessionalprofessional cleaningscleaningscleaningscleanings areareareareaaaa must.must.must.must. WithoutWithoutWithoutWithout preventativepreventativepreventativepreventative healthcare,healthcare,healthcare,healthcare, toothtoothtoothtooth decaydecaydecaydecay andandandand potentiallypotentiallypotentiallypotentially toothtoothtoothtooth losslosslosslossisisisis aaaa certainty.certainty.certainty.certainty.

GumGumGumGumDiseaseDiseaseDiseaseDisease

GumGumGumGum diseasediseasediseasedisease isisisis anananan advancedadvancedadvancedadvanced oraloraloraloralbacterialbacterialbacterialbacterial infectioninfectioninfectioninfection ofofofof thethethethe gumsgumsgumsgums andandandand thethethethesupportingsupportingsupportingsupporting structuresstructuresstructuresstructures ofofofof thethethethe teeth.teeth.teeth.teeth. ItItItIt isisisiscausedcausedcausedcaused bybybyby aaaa combinationcombinationcombinationcombination ofofofof factors,factors,factors,factors, butbutbutbutmostmostmostmost commonlycommonlycommonlycommonly bybybyby aaaa lifelonglifelonglifelonglifelong lacklacklacklack ofofofofproperproperproperproper oraloraloraloral hygiene.hygiene.hygiene.hygiene. Swollen,Swollen,Swollen,Swollen, inflamedinflamedinflamedinflamedgums,gums,gums,gums, persistentpersistentpersistentpersistent badbadbadbad breath,breath,breath,breath, toothtoothtoothtoothdiscoloration,discoloration,discoloration,discoloration, gumgumgumgum recession,recession,recession,recession, oraloraloralorallesionslesionslesionslesions andandandand looselooselooseloose teethteethteethteeth areareareare allallallall commoncommoncommoncommonsymptomssymptomssymptomssymptoms ofofofof gumgumgumgum disease.disease.disease.disease. WithoutWithoutWithoutWithouttreatment,treatment,treatment,treatment, toothtoothtoothtooth losslosslossloss isisisis inevitableinevitableinevitableinevitable....

WhatWhatWhatWhat cancancancan bebebebe donedonedonedone totototo preventpreventpreventprevent it?it?it?it?

ByByByBy practicingpracticingpracticingpracticing aaaa goodgoodgoodgood homehomehomehome oraloraloraloral hygienehygienehygienehygiene routineroutineroutineroutine andandandand goinggoinggoinggoing forforforfor regularregularregularregular scheduledscheduledscheduledscheduledcheck-upscheck-upscheck-upscheck-ups withwithwithwith youryouryouryour dentist,dentist,dentist,dentist, NewNewNewNew JerseyJerseyJerseyJersey residentsresidentsresidentsresidents cancancancan preventpreventpreventprevent oraloraloraloral bacterialbacterialbacterialbacterialinfectioninfectioninfectioninfection andandandand thethethethe terribleterribleterribleterrible healthhealthhealthhealth concernsconcernsconcernsconcerns itititit comescomescomescomes hand-in-handhand-in-handhand-in-handhand-in-hand with.with.with.with. AvoidingAvoidingAvoidingAvoidingsmokingsmokingsmokingsmoking andandandand excessiveexcessiveexcessiveexcessive drinkingdrinkingdrinkingdrinking areareareare alsoalsoalsoalso important.important.important.important.

CertainCertainCertainCertain IllnessesIllnessesIllnessesIllnesses

JustJustJustJust likelikelikelike gumgumgumgum diseasediseasediseasedisease cancancancan aggravateaggravateaggravateaggravate orororor eveneveneveneven leadleadleadlead totototo thethethethe developmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopment ofofofof certaincertaincertaincertainillnesses,illnesses,illnesses,illnesses, theretheretherethere areareareare alsoalsoalsoalso certaincertaincertaincertain illnessesillnessesillnessesillnesses thatthatthatthat cancancancan leaveleaveleaveleave youyouyouyou moremoremoremore susceptiblesusceptiblesusceptiblesusceptible totototodevelopingdevelopingdevelopingdeveloping gumgumgumgum disease:disease:disease:disease: diabetesdiabetesdiabetesdiabetes isisisis oneoneoneone ofofofof them.them.them.them.

DiabetesDiabetesDiabetesDiabetes impedesimpedesimpedesimpedes youryouryouryour mouthmouthmouthmouth’’’’ssss abilityabilityabilityabilitytotototo healhealhealheal andandandand totototo fightfightfightfight offoffoffoff infection.infection.infection.infection. ““““ItItItItalsoalsoalsoalso leavesleavesleavesleaves patientspatientspatientspatients moremoremoremore susceptiblesusceptiblesusceptiblesusceptible totototofungalfungalfungalfungal infectionsinfectionsinfectionsinfections andandandand aaaa conditionconditionconditioncondition calledcalledcalledcalledxerostomiaxerostomiaxerostomiaxerostomia orororor ‘‘‘‘drydrydrydry mouthmouthmouthmouth’’’’.... SSSSinceinceinceince youryouryouryoursalivasalivasalivasaliva isisisis youryouryouryour bodybodybodybody’’’’ssss naturalnaturalnaturalnatural defensedefensedefensedefenseagainstagainstagainstagainst bacteria,bacteria,bacteria,bacteria, drydrydrydry mouthmouthmouthmouth cancancancan bebebebe aaaaveryveryveryvery dangerousdangerousdangerousdangerous conditionconditionconditioncondition andandandand cancancancan leaveleaveleaveleaveyouryouryouryour teethteethteethteeth moremoremoremore vulnerablevulnerablevulnerablevulnerable totototo cavitiescavitiescavitiescavitiesandandandand decay.decay.decay.decay.””””

WhatWhatWhatWhat cancancancan bebebebe donedonedonedone totototo preventpreventpreventprevent it?it?it?it?

““““IfIfIfIf youyouyouyou havehavehavehave beenbeenbeenbeen diagnoseddiagnoseddiagnoseddiagnosed withwithwithwith anyanyanyany seriousseriousseriousserious orororor chronicchronicchronicchronic illness,illness,illness,illness, itititit isisisis importantimportantimportantimportantthatthatthatthat youyouyouyou findfindfindfind outoutoutout thethethethe fullfullfullfull implicationsimplicationsimplicationsimplications forforforfor youryouryouryour oraloraloraloral health,health,health,health,”””” explainsexplainsexplainsexplains thethethethe NewNewNewNewJerseyJerseyJerseyJersey dentistdentistdentistdentist.... ““““ByByByBy understandingunderstandingunderstandingunderstanding thethethethe fullfullfullfull impactsimpactsimpactsimpacts thethethethe disease,disease,disease,disease, youyouyouyou cancancancan dodododo whatwhatwhatwhatisisisis necessarynecessarynecessarynecessary totototo mitigatemitigatemitigatemitigate anyanyanyany damage.damage.damage.damage. YouYouYouYou maymaymaymay alsoalsoalsoalso justjustjustjust havehavehavehave totototo acceptacceptacceptaccept thatthatthatthat as,as,as,as,forforforfor example,example,example,example, aaaa diabetic,diabetic,diabetic,diabetic, youyouyouyou willwillwillwill havehavehavehave totototo brushbrushbrushbrush moremoremoremore frequently,frequently,frequently,frequently, seeseeseesee youryouryouryour dentistdentistdentistdentistmoremoremoremore oftenoftenoftenoften andandandand taketaketaketake moremoremoremore precautionsprecautionsprecautionsprecautions inininin termstermstermsterms ofofofof maintainingmaintainingmaintainingmaintaining goodgoodgoodgood oraloraloraloral health.health.health.health.””””

CertainCertainCertainCertain ChronicChronicChronicChronic MedicationsMedicationsMedicationsMedications

ThereThereThereThere areareareare certaincertaincertaincertain medications,medications,medications,medications, especiallyespeciallyespeciallyespecially onesonesonesones takentakentakentaken inininin thethethethe longlonglonglong term,term,term,term, thatthatthatthat cancancancandamagedamagedamagedamage youryouryouryour teethteethteethteeth andandandand leaveleaveleaveleave youyouyouyou atatatat aaaa greatergreatergreatergreater riskriskriskrisk ofofofof developingdevelopingdevelopingdeveloping gumgumgumgum diseasediseasediseasedisease.... InInInInfact,fact,fact,fact, asasasas muchmuchmuchmuch asasasas 40%40%40%40% ofofofof AmericansAmericansAmericansAmericans currentlycurrentlycurrentlycurrently taketaketaketake aaaa drugdrugdrugdrug (either(either(either(either legallegallegallegal orororor illegal)illegal)illegal)illegal)thatthatthatthat couldcouldcouldcould bebebebe damagingdamagingdamagingdamaging theirtheirtheirtheir teeth.teeth.teeth.teeth.

WhatWhatWhatWhat areareareare thethethethe culprits?culprits?culprits?culprits?

Aspirin,Aspirin,Aspirin,Aspirin, coughcoughcoughcough syrups,syrups,syrups,syrups, antihistaminesantihistaminesantihistaminesantihistamines andandandand asthmaasthmaasthmaasthma medications.medications.medications.medications. Some,Some,Some,Some, likelikelikelike coughcoughcoughcoughsyrup,syrup,syrup,syrup, containcontaincontaincontain aaaa lotlotlotlot ofofofof sugarsugarsugarsugar andandandand cancancancan contributecontributecontributecontribute totototo aaaa greatergreatergreatergreater riskriskriskrisk ofofofof cavitycavitycavitycavityformation.formation.formation.formation. Others,Others,Others,Others, likelikelikelike aspirin,aspirin,aspirin,aspirin, areareareare frequentlyfrequentlyfrequentlyfrequently takentakentakentaken incorrectlyincorrectlyincorrectlyincorrectly andandandand thereforethereforethereforetherefore dododododirectdirectdirectdirect damagedamagedamagedamage totototo thethethethe toothtoothtoothtooth enamel.enamel.enamel.enamel.

SmokingSmokingSmokingSmoking andandandand TobaccoTobaccoTobaccoTobacco UseUseUseUse

SmokingSmokingSmokingSmoking cancancancan causecausecausecause thethethethe following:following:following:following:

•••• StainingStainingStainingStaining andandandand discolorationdiscolorationdiscolorationdiscoloration ofofofof thethethethe teethteethteethteeth•••• XerostomiaXerostomiaXerostomiaXerostomia orororor ““““drydrydrydry mouthmouthmouthmouth””””•••• ImpededImpededImpededImpeded healinghealinghealinghealing afterafterafterafter surgerysurgerysurgerysurgery•••• ImpededImpededImpededImpeded abilityabilityabilityability totototo fightfightfightfight offoffoffoff infectioninfectioninfectioninfection•••• AnAnAnAn increasedincreasedincreasedincreased riskriskriskrisk ofofofof periodontalperiodontalperiodontalperiodontal (gum)(gum)(gum)(gum) diseasediseasediseasedisease•••• CancerCancerCancerCancer•••• PossiblyPossiblyPossiblyPossibly toothtoothtoothtooth losslosslossloss

WhatWhatWhatWhat cancancancan bebebebe donedonedonedone totototo preventpreventpreventprevent it?it?it?it?

““““ManyManyManyMany ofofofof thethethethe NewNewNewNew JerseyJerseyJerseyJersey residentsresidentsresidentsresidents wewewewe treattreattreattreat withwithwithwith All-on-4All-on-4All-on-4All-on-4 dentaldentaldentaldental implantsimplantsimplantsimplants havehavehavehavelostlostlostlost mostmostmostmost orororor allallallall ofofofof theirtheirtheirtheir naturalnaturalnaturalnatural teethteethteethteeth totototo habitshabitshabitshabits suchsuchsuchsuch asasasas smokingsmokingsmokingsmoking orororor tobaccotobaccotobaccotobacco use,use,use,use,””””explainsexplainsexplainsexplains aaaa specialist.specialist.specialist.specialist. ““““WeWeWeWe dodododo recommendrecommendrecommendrecommend thatthatthatthat patientspatientspatientspatients dodododo whatwhatwhatwhat theytheytheythey cancancancan totototominimizeminimizeminimizeminimize orororor quitquitquitquit smokingsmokingsmokingsmoking altogether,altogether,altogether,altogether, especiallyespeciallyespeciallyespecially ifififif comingcomingcomingcoming inininin forforforfor surgerysurgerysurgerysurgery asasasassmokingsmokingsmokingsmoking doesdoesdoesdoes increaseincreaseincreaseincrease thethethethe riskriskriskrisk ofofofof implantimplantimplantimplant failure.failure.failure.failure.””””

ExcessiveExcessiveExcessiveExcessive AlcoholAlcoholAlcoholAlcohol UseUseUseUse

AlcoholicAlcoholicAlcoholicAlcoholic beveragesbeveragesbeveragesbeverages tendtendtendtend totototo containcontaincontaincontain aaaa lotlotlotlot ofofofofsugarsugarsugarsugar and/orand/orand/orand/or acid,acid,acid,acid, whichwhichwhichwhich cancancancan increaseincreaseincreaseincrease youryouryouryourriskriskriskrisk ofofofof cavities,cavities,cavities,cavities, toothtoothtoothtooth decaydecaydecaydecay andandandand gumgumgumgum disease.disease.disease.disease.ExcessiveExcessiveExcessiveExcessive drinkingdrinkingdrinkingdrinking alsoalsoalsoalso tendstendstendstends totototo bebebebe linkedlinkedlinkedlinked totototootherotherotherother badbadbadbad lifestylelifestylelifestylelifestyle choiceschoiceschoiceschoices andandandand habits,habits,habits,habits, suchsuchsuchsuch asasasassmoking,smoking,smoking,smoking, badbadbadbad eatingeatingeatingeating andandandand poorpoorpoorpoor oraloraloraloral hygiene.hygiene.hygiene.hygiene.

DrugDrugDrugDrug AbuseAbuseAbuseAbuse

““““TheTheTheThe frequentfrequentfrequentfrequent useuseuseuse ofofofof drugsdrugsdrugsdrugs –––– illegalillegalillegalillegal drugsdrugsdrugsdrugs –––– cancancancan absolutelyabsolutelyabsolutelyabsolutely wreckwreckwreckwreck youryouryouryour teeth,teeth,teeth,teeth,””””warnwarnwarnwarn dentaldentaldentaldental healthcarehealthcarehealthcarehealthcare professionals.professionals.professionals.professionals.

���� CannabisCannabisCannabisCannabis (marijuana)(marijuana)(marijuana)(marijuana) carriescarriescarriescarries aaaa similarsimilarsimilarsimilar riskriskriskrisk totototo tobacco-use;tobacco-use;tobacco-use;tobacco-use; onlyonlyonlyonly itsitsitsits effectseffectseffectseffectsonononon salivasalivasalivasaliva productionproductionproductionproduction areareareare moremoremoremore severe.severe.severe.severe.

���� EcstasyEcstasyEcstasyEcstasy (E)(E)(E)(E) causescausescausescauses jawjawjawjaw clenchingclenchingclenchingclenching andandandand toothtoothtoothtooth grinding,grinding,grinding,grinding, whichwhichwhichwhich cancancancan wreckwreckwreckwreck thethethetheenamelenamelenamelenamel ofofofof thethethethe teeth,teeth,teeth,teeth, causingcausingcausingcausing fractures,fractures,fractures,fractures, erosionerosionerosionerosion andandandand aaaa greatergreatergreatergreater riskriskriskrisk ofofofof cavities.cavities.cavities.cavities.ItItItIt alsoalsoalsoalso causescausescausescauses ““““drydrydrydry mouthmouthmouthmouth””””....

���� CocaineCocaineCocaineCocaine (coke,(coke,(coke,(coke, blow)blow)blow)blow) isisisis extremelyextremelyextremelyextremely acidic,acidic,acidic,acidic, whichwhichwhichwhich cancancancan leadleadleadlead totototo erosionerosionerosionerosion ofofofof thethethethedentaldentaldentaldental enamelenamelenamelenamel andandandand thethethethe exposureexposureexposureexposure ofofofof thethethethe softersoftersoftersofter underlyingunderlyingunderlyingunderlying dentine.dentine.dentine.dentine. ThisThisThisThis makesmakesmakesmakesitititit farfarfarfar easiereasiereasiereasier forforforfor oraloraloraloral bacteriabacteriabacteriabacteria totototo infiltrateinfiltrateinfiltrateinfiltrate thethethethe toothtoothtoothtooth andandandand infectinfectinfectinfect itsitsitsits pulppulppulppulpchamber,chamber,chamber,chamber,”””” explainsexplainsexplainsexplains aaaa dentaldentaldentaldental implantimplantimplantimplant surgeon.surgeon.surgeon.surgeon. InInInIn additionadditionadditionaddition totototo thesethesethesethese seriousseriousseriousseriousproblems,problems,problems,problems, cocainecocainecocainecocaine useuseuseuse causescausescausescauses toothtoothtoothtooth grinding,grinding,grinding,grinding, jawjawjawjaw clenchingclenchingclenchingclenching andandandand drydrydrydry mouth.mouth.mouth.mouth.

���� MethamphetamineMethamphetamineMethamphetamineMethamphetamine (meth,(meth,(meth,(meth, speed)speed)speed)speed) causescausescausescauses aggressiveaggressiveaggressiveaggressive toothtoothtoothtooth decaydecaydecaydecay inininin ananananexceptionallyexceptionallyexceptionallyexceptionally shortshortshortshort periodperiodperiodperiod ofofofof time.time.time.time. PeoplePeoplePeoplePeople whowhowhowho havehavehavehave beenbeenbeenbeen usingusingusingusing methmethmethmeth forforforfor asasasaslittlelittlelittlelittle asasasas aaaa yearyearyearyear cancancancan presentpresentpresentpresent withwithwithwith aaaa conditionconditionconditioncondition aptlyaptlyaptlyaptly referredreferredreferredreferred totototo asasasas ““““methmethmethmethmouthmouthmouthmouth””””,,,, whichwhichwhichwhich isisisis usedusedusedused totototo describedescribedescribedescribe thethethethe devastatingdevastatingdevastatingdevastating effectseffectseffectseffects thisthisthisthis illegalillegalillegalillegal drugdrugdrugdrug hashashashasonononon oneoneoneone’’’’ssss oraloraloraloral health.health.health.health.

���� HeroinHeroinHeroinHeroin (smack),(smack),(smack),(smack), asasasas withwithwithwith allallallall thethethethe otherotherotherother majormajormajormajor illegalillegalillegalillegal drugs,drugs,drugs,drugs, causescausescausescauses toothtoothtoothtoothgrinding,grinding,grinding,grinding, jawjawjawjaw clenchingclenchingclenchingclenching andandandand drydrydrydry mouth.mouth.mouth.mouth. ItItItIt alsoalsoalsoalso tendstendstendstends totototo causecausecausecause intenseintenseintenseintense sugarsugarsugarsugarcravingscravingscravingscravings and,and,and,and, coupledcoupledcoupledcoupled withwithwithwith poorpoorpoorpoor oraloraloraloral hygiene,hygiene,hygiene,hygiene, cancancancan leadleadleadlead totototo aaaa fastfastfastfastdeteriorationdeteriorationdeteriorationdeterioration ofofofof oraloraloraloral health.health.health.health.

AllAllAllAll drugdrugdrugdrug habitshabitshabitshabits tendtendtendtend totototo bebebebe linkedlinkedlinkedlinked withwithwithwith otherotherotherother addictionsaddictionsaddictionsaddictions andandandand unhealthyunhealthyunhealthyunhealthy lifestylelifestylelifestylelifestylechoices,choices,choices,choices, suchsuchsuchsuch asasasas smoking,smoking,smoking,smoking, heavyheavyheavyheavy drinking,drinking,drinking,drinking, aaaa badbadbadbad diet,diet,diet,diet, poorpoorpoorpoor oraloraloraloral hygienehygienehygienehygiene andandandand aaaalacklacklacklack ofofofof professionalprofessionalprofessionalprofessional dentaldentaldentaldental care.care.care.care. ItItItIt’’’’ssss notnotnotnot surprisingsurprisingsurprisingsurprising thenthenthenthen totototo learnlearnlearnlearn thatthatthatthat manymanymanymany ofofofof thethethethepeoplepeoplepeoplepeople whowhowhowho suffersuffersuffersuffer fromfromfromfrom somesomesomesome kindkindkindkind ofofofof addictionaddictionaddictionaddiction needneedneedneed newnewnewnew teeth.teeth.teeth.teeth.

EatingEatingEatingEating DisordersDisordersDisordersDisorders

““““YourYourYourYour teethteethteethteeth andandandand gums,gums,gums,gums, asasasas withwithwithwith thethethethe restrestrestrest ofofofof youryouryouryour body,body,body,body, relyrelyrelyrely onononon properproperproperproper nutritionnutritionnutritionnutrition totototoremainremainremainremain strong,strong,strong,strong,”””” explainsexplainsexplainsexplains aaaa dentaldentaldentaldental implantimplantimplantimplant surgeon.surgeon.surgeon.surgeon. ““““AnorexiaAnorexiaAnorexiaAnorexia andandandand bulimiabulimiabulimiabulimia cancancancancausecausecausecause seriousseriousseriousserious dentaldentaldentaldental problemsproblemsproblemsproblems becausebecausebecausebecause thesethesethesethese eatingeatingeatingeating disordersdisordersdisordersdisorders denydenydenydeny youryouryouryour bodybodybodybody thethethethenutritionnutritionnutritionnutrition itititit needsneedsneedsneeds totototo fightfightfightfight offoffoffoff infectioninfectioninfectioninfection andandandand totototo staystaystaystay healthy.healthy.healthy.healthy. AAAA lacklacklacklack ofofofof stimulationstimulationstimulationstimulationofofofof thethethethe jawbonejawbonejawbonejawbone cancancancan alsoalsoalsoalso causecausecausecause atrophicationatrophicationatrophicationatrophication ofofofof thethethethe hardhardhardhard tissue.tissue.tissue.tissue. TheTheTheThe purgingpurgingpurgingpurging thatthatthatthatisisisis characteristiccharacteristiccharacteristiccharacteristic ofofofof bulimiabulimiabulimiabulimia exposesexposesexposesexposes thethethethe dentaldentaldentaldental enamelenamelenamelenamel protectingprotectingprotectingprotecting thethethethe teethteethteethteeth totototostomachstomachstomachstomach acid,acid,acid,acid, whichwhichwhichwhich causescausescausescauses erosion.erosion.erosion.erosion.””””

ThanksThanksThanksThanks forforforfor ReadingReadingReadingReading