Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones which causes your body to lose bone density and mass. This results in weakened bones that are at a higher risk of getting fractures. Many people with osteoporosis often wonder whether this condition will affect their teeth.

Your teeth aren’t bones; hence, osteoporosis can’t directly affect your teeth’s composition or health. However, it can have an indirect effect because of your jaw, which holds your teeth in place. Osteoporosis has often been associated with tooth loss because of this reason.

According to a professional dentist in Midland, here’s how osteoporosis can affect your teeth:

Teeth composition

While teeth and bones share many common characteristics, they’re made of different materials. Bones consist mostly of collagen and calcium phosphate, while teeth consist of different layers of pulp, dentin, cementum, and enamel.

Osteoporosis can impact your bone’s ability to create new tissue in its spongy interior. People often mistakenly believe that teeth are bones since the white enamel on the outermost layer looks similar. Unlike bones, teeth don’t consist of any living tissue.

Teeth and medication

Osteoporosis medication can adversely affect your jawbone. Your doctor might prescribe you biphosphates, which can be taken intravenously or orally to ward off any future fractures and make your bones stronger. Unfortunately, this comes at a risk to your teeth and jaw since it can result in a rare complication known as osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Women’s dental health

Women are more susceptible to getting osteoporosis than men, which means that they also have a higher likelihood of developing oral health problems or dental issues. Women who are about to enter or have already started their menopausal phase are at higher risk than others.

Menopause triggers the resorption of the bones, causing bone density to decline. This increase in bone loss is a major reason for contracting bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Women with osteoporosis have a higher chance of experiencing difficulties with healing after a dental procedure and oral surgery.

Women can decrease their risk by increasing their calcium intake or going through hormone therapy to retain a healthy balance of hormones.

Prevention

You can prevent osteoporosis and many other oral health issues by maintaining a high-calcium diet. Supplements alone aren’t sufficient for providing your body with the appropriate amounts of nutrients. Make sure to include foods like kale, broccoli, plain yogurt, and milk rich in calcium.

If you have any oral health issues because of osteoporosis, head over to Dr Be Smiles in Midland! Our qualified team will do a thorough check-up to assess your dental health and guide you toward the proper treatment. We provide same-day treatments for a variety of procedures such as teeth deep cleaning, root canals, and dental implants.