6 Reasons Why You Should Never Ignore a Missing Tooth

Epidemiological studies by the American College of Prosthodontists show that about 120 million Americans have lost at least one permanent tooth, while 36 million others have lost all their teeth.

Whether you have lost your tooth due to illness, decay, old age, or injury, this can seriously impact your life. Below are six reasons why you should never ignore a missing tooth. 

1. Discomfort Eating 

You may have difficulties chewing hard foods such as corn, pizza, and meat if you have a missing tooth in an area critical for eating, like your molars or front teeth. In the process of dealing with the pain or pressure, you may adjust your jaw movement unknowingly and cause a sore jaw or TMJ disorder. 

If the pain is too much, you may even change your diet. Without a plan to maintain a proper diet, you could eliminate some much-needed nutrients or proteins and suffer from malnourishment and poor overall health. 

2. Dental Shift

A missing tooth leaves a gap between adjacent teeth. Over time, the adjacent teeth shift to fill that empty space. Their neighboring teeth also begin to lean to fill the space created by the shifting teeth. Before you know it, all your teeth are misaligned.

The misaligned teeth will not only affect the quality of your smile but can also cause difficulties in chewing, jaw pain, and headaches. Moreover, they make it difficult to brush and floss your teeth, which can eventually cause decay and more tooth loss. 

3. Lower Confidence

A missing tooth can make you feel less attractive, especially if the gap is visible as you smile. This can harm your self-esteem and affect critical aspects of your life, such as the ability to make new friends, pursue relationships, and grow in your career. 

Also, the missing tooth may affect your speech. Many people are unable to pronounce some words properly after losing their teeth. This alone is enough reason for many to replace the lost tooth as soon as possible, as they are embarrassed by their new speech patterns. 

4. Facial Aesthetics

Your teeth keep the surrounding bone tissue firm and in good health. After losing your tooth, the bone tissue weakens, and your cheeks begin to cave in or sag. Your remaining teeth may also shift inside the mouth to harm your facial structure further. 

But even without affecting your facial features, a missing tooth makes you less attractive. Most people notice your teeth and smile before other facial features. With one or several gaps in your teeth, it's almost impossible to produce a perfect smile. 

5. Bone Loss

Your jawbone relies on stimulation to stay healthy. This stimulation comes from typical teeth movements, like when eating or talking. When you have a missing tooth, there is no movement in that area, so the jawbone doesn't get stimulation. With time, the jawbone loses mass and becomes weaker. 

In severe cases, the bone loss is unrecoverable. If you decide to replace the lost tooth with a dental implant, you would first need a bone graft to support the new tooth. 

6. Periodontal Disease

The spot left by a missing tooth is a good harboring ground for different types of bacteria. And since that spot is a little tender, you might skip over it as you brush, so the bacteria continue to multiply. The bacteria increase the risk of infections that may grow into periodontal (gum) disease. 

If left untreated, gum disease can progress into gingivitis, a severe condition that puts you at risk of losing more teeth. Worse still, gum disease is linked to other serious health conditions, such as stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, and heart disease. 

If you have recently lost one or several teeth, seek treatment as soon as possible. At Davis & Beyer Dental Health Professionals, we offer several options to replace missing teeth, including dental bridges, crowns, dentures, and implants. Contact us today to learn more about these replacement options and to schedule an appointment.