What Happens When You Have Missing Teeth? Find Out Here

Losing one or more of your teeth can have a significant impact on your life. Not only is it an aesthetic issue, but it can also cause problems with your speech, diet, and even your overall health. If you’re missing teeth, you may be wondering what happens if you don’t replace them or how to go about doing so. Read on to learn more about the effects of missing teeth below.

Difficulty to Chew:

Having missing teeth can be a major struggle. Not only do you have to deal with the aesthetics of having a gap in your smile, but it can also make it difficult to chew. Eating hard or crunchy foods can become challenging, so you will want to focus on softer foods that require little effort to consume. You may even need to avoid foods with small pieces that could get stuck in your mouth or throat.

Teeth Shifting:

When you have missing teeth, your remaining teeth can shift in your mouth. This can cause a variety of problems, including difficulty chewing and speaking. Teeth that move out of place can cause an uncomfortable bite and may eventually lead to more serious issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and even the need for braces or other orthodontic treatments. To prevent teeth from shifting, it’s important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.

Bone Deterioration:

When a person loses one or more of their teeth, it can lead to bone deterioration in the jaw. This is because the tooth root is no longer in place to stimulate the surrounding bone tissue and keep it strong. Without this stimulation, the bone begins to weaken and erode away.

This can lead to an increased risk of further tooth loss, as well as making dental implant placement difficult. To prevent bone deterioration, it’s important to replace missing teeth with a dental prosthetic such as a bridge or dental implant as soon as possible. Replacing missing teeth can help preserve the surrounding bone tissue and protect your oral health.

More Teeth Loss:

If you have missing teeth, you run the risk of further tooth loss. This is due to a phenomenon called ‘drift’. When one or more teeth are missing, the other teeth will begin to move into the gap created by the missing tooth. This can create imbalances in the bite and cause overcrowding. As the teeth continue to move, they can become misaligned and even dislodge other teeth, resulting in further tooth loss. To protect your remaining teeth, it’s important to have missing teeth replaced as soon as possible.

Understanding the impact of missing teeth and the solutions available is important for maintaining your oral health. Talk to your dentist to know the options available for replacing your missing teeth. The best solution for missing tooth is dental implants. Read our blog post Dental Implants – What You Need to Know for more info.

Reference: https://www.worldhealth.net/news/what-are-common-risks-and-impacts-missing-teeth/