Many adults these days have at least one missing tooth. Whether it is due to decay or an accident, missing teeth can lower a person's self-esteem and make it more difficult to speak and eat. However, if you make a few changes, you can keep your teeth for a lifetime. Here are five effective ways to avoid losing your teeth:

Quit Grinding Your Teeth

If teeth grinding is a habit of yours, you may want to consider stopping very soon. Over time, you can wear down the enamel of your teeth and make them more prone to breaking. If you can't seem to stop grinding your teeth at night, speak to your dentist about getting a custom mouth guard. This device can prevent you from grinding your teeth when you are asleep.

Take Caution While Playing Contact Sports

Do you play a contact sport, like hockey or football? If so, you have to be extra careful with your teeth. If a bill hits your mouth during a game, it may knock one or more of your teeth out. Wearing a mouth guard while playing a sport can prevent this.

Don't Eat Too Many Sweets

Most of us can agree that donuts and cupcakes are yummy. However, eating too many sweets can be very bad for your teeth. Bacteria attracted to sugar and will linger on your teeth after you have eaten something sweet. To avoid damaging your teeth, try to limit the amount of sweets you eat.

Pay Attention to Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease is very treatable in the early stages. However, if it progresses too far, it can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth. That is why it is important to watch out for signs of gum disease, such as red and puffy gums. If your gums don't appear normal, make an appointment to see your dentist right away.

Stop Using Your Teeth for Opening Items

If you have ever used your teeth to open up a bottle of pop or bag of chips, you're not alone. However, this is not a good habit to get into. Using your teeth to do something other than chew food can wear down the enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to chips and cracks.

If you still lose one or more of your teeth, you may want to speak to your dentist about getting dental implants.