Your teeth are meant to work together to help you chew, speak, bite, and eat. Because of this, even losing a single tooth can contribute to a surprising number of dental health issues. In this blog from Downey Park Family Dentistry, we’ll explain the most common dental problems caused by tooth loss. Read on, and see why it’s so important to replace your missing teeth as soon as you can to avoid these missing teeth problems.
One of the most common problems associated with missing teeth is teeth shifting. When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth will tend to shift toward the gap where the tooth used to be, in an attempt to close up the gap in your smile.
This can ruin your bite and the alignment of your teeth by shifting, which could lead to a higher susceptibility to issues like teeth grinding (bruxism), TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), and similar oral health issues that may cause premature tooth wear and damage.
Replacing the tooth with a denture, dental bridge, or a dental implant is the best way to prevent the nearby teeth from shifting, and to preserve your oral health.
When you lose a tooth, the underlying bone is not stimulated by biting and chewing, and starts to weaken in a process called “bone resorption.” This can cause changes to your appearance, particularly if you are missing multiple adjacent teeth.
The only way to prevent bone loss with missing teeth is with a dental implant. Unlike dentures or dental bridges, implants actually are surgically placed into the jaw bone. Because of this, they stimulate the bone and place pressure on it when you bite and chew. This preserves the integrity of your jaw bone.
Losing a tooth can lead to a higher risk of gum disease. It’s often more difficult to clean near the site, especially if the nearby teeth shift. This can lead to bacteria accumulating under the gum line, contributing to gum disease and further damage to the nearby jaw bone and tissue. In turn, this can even lead to a higher risk of losing the nearby teeth. At Downey Park Family Dentistry, we understand the complex interplay between tooth loss and gum health. With our highly experienced periodontist, Dr. Herrera, who possesses years of expertise in managing gum disease, you can trust that your oral health is in capable hands.
Losing multiple teeth makes it harder to eat a healthy diet, especially when it comes to eating healthy fruits and vegetables, which are often tough to eat if you lack rear molars or healthy front teeth. Not only does this interfere with your lifestyle, but it can lead to a higher risk of oral health and whole-body health complications due to inadequate nutrition.
In addition to these oral health problems, missing teeth can also negatively affect your self-esteem and confidence and lead to speech difficulties. If you’re missing one or more of your natural teeth and want to avoid problems with your health in Modesto, it’s important to get help from an experienced restorative dentist like Dr. Acree.
So don’t wait. Transform your life, prevent these oral health issues, and get the healthy, natural smile you deserve. Contact us online or call Downey Park Family Dentistry at (209) 529-0674 to schedule your appointment today.