Your teeth play a vital role in a variety of activities. Having all of your teeth is not just about having a pretty smile. In fact, your teeth are essential to your overall health and well-being. You may not realize it, but your teeth all work together as a unit. When one tooth is missing, your other teeth try to compensate for its loss. As a result, your chewing and speaking abilities begin to diminish.
Missing teeth can affect so many aspects of your life. As a matter of fact, missing teeth will affect your physical appearance, oral health, and overall health. Therefore, fixing missing teeth as soon as possible is essential to avoid severe side effects. Luckily, your dentist will be able to provide options for all of your missing teeth needs. This will prevent any significant issues associated with missing teeth.
Avoid Shifting Teeth
Your teeth rely on the pressure and stability of your other teeth to keep them in place. This also keeps your teeth from shifting or moving out of place. Once your teeth shift, you can begin to develop a bite problem. Your “bite” is where your top teeth and bottom teeth meet. So, a bite problem happens when your teeth do not align properly. Without the support of your teeth working together, your teeth will fill the gap and ruin your bite.
Bite problems and missing teeth make it difficult to chew your food efficiently. Sometimes, it can even cause pain or discomfort. This can affect your ability to absorb nutrients in your diet. If it is too hard or painful to eat certain foods that are essential to your diet, you may avoid them. Ultimately, you can experience malnutrition because you cannot chew your food correctly.
Bone Loss
Shifting teeth are not the only problem that can arise when you lose a tooth. Your jawbone also requires the support and pressure of your teeth to retain its shape. The longer you wait to fix the gap in your teeth, the more likely your jawbone will begin to deteriorate. This is because your jaw needs the stimulation of all your teeth working together to keep their density. Otherwise, your jawbone will lose its structure, making replacement options difficult in the future.
How Can You Fix Them?
There are many replacement options available. You and your dentist can discuss which option will work best for you.
Dentures are a quick and painless way to fill the gaps in your smile. You can use them as a temporary replacement, or you can use them as your permanent option. Dentures are removable plastic devices that sit on your gums and retain the shape of your jaw.
Dental bridges are semi-permanent replacements for your missing teeth. To fill the gap in your smile, you can use dental bridges. Dental bridges attach prosthetic crowns to your remaining natural teeth.
Finally, you can talk to your dentist about dental implants. Dental implants are permanent replacement options that require surgery. Although the process is invasive, dental implants function and look like your natural teeth.