How Osteoporosis Could Affect Your Teeth

Posted on: 13 April 2015

Getting a bone density test can often reveal the beginning stages of osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes the bones in your body to weaken. If you are diagnosed with this, you may not realize that it could affect your teeth. If you do not take the right steps for treating the condition, you could wind up needing cosmetic dental procedures in the future.

How does osteoporosis affect your teeth?

Having osteoporosis means that your bones have lost mass and density, and this can include your jawbone. Your jawbone holds your teeth in place and is necessary for good oral health. As the jawbone deteriorates, you could end up with the following problems:

  • Loss of teeth
  • Periodontal disease
  • Shifting teeth

If you have dentures, osteoporosis could lead to problems with the way your dentures fit. Your dentures may become loose, rub wrong on your gums, or stop fitting altogether.

How can you stop the damage?

If you have osteoporosis, your doctor will help you find the right treatment plan for you, and this may include:

  • Lifestyle changes – Exercising is often recommended to treat osteoporosis, and you might be asked to stop smoking or using other forms of nicotine products.
  • Medication – Taking medication is another way to treat this condition. Most medications issued to people with osteoporosis are designed to slow bone loss. While this will not help rebuild the loss you have already experienced, it could prevent the condition from worsening.

These are the two most common ways to treat osteoporosis, but it's better to prevent it in the first place. If you start taking good care of your body when you are young, you might be able to avoid getting this condition.

What if the damage is already occurring?

If the condition has already caused jawbone loss, you may need to visit a cosmetic dentist to get any oral problems fixed that you might have. This could include getting certain teeth extracted and replaced with dental implants, or it might involve getting a complete set of dentures. The only way you can find out what types of dentistry services you need is to go to a cosmetic dentist and have him or her evaluate your current oral condition.

If you would like to learn more about caring for your teeth, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area like South Florida Dental Arts and schedule an appointment for a consultation visit.

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