How Important Is Your Tooth Root?

Remember the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind?” Well, that seems the way it is for our tooth roots, wouldn’t you say? How many of us actually think about the roots of our teeth? Most people focus on the crowns of their teeth. The part of the tooth structure that people see. The part that they floss and brush, and try to keep white and shiny. The crowns of your teeth are very important because you need them to chew your food, but have you ever thought about the importance of your roots?

Your Root and Your Jaw

The root of your tooth is not only important because it holds your tooth in your jawbone, it also keeps your jawbone healthy. Inside your root canal is the pulp of your tooth. It is the only living part of your tooth structure and it consists of living tissue cells, nerves, and arteries. The pulp of your tooth is kept alive by the blood and nutrients that travel to it through the jawbone. Correspondingly, when you chew or bite down, the root of your tooth stimulates the flow of vitamins and nutrients to your jawbone.

Why is This Important?

Understanding the importance of your root to the health of your jawbone is crucial because when you lose a tooth, you lose the root. Therefore, the root is no longer able to stimulate your jawbone and keep it strong and healthy. Without this stimulation, your jawbone will begin to resorb, meaning that it will gradually breakdown and be dispersed into your circulatory system. To prevent this from happening it is important to take care of your teeth to try to prevent tooth loss. However, if you do lose a tooth it is important to have that tooth replaced. An implant is the only dental procedure that can help avoid jawbone resorption.