Missing Teeth Problems
Causes of Tooth Loss
There are several reasons for tooth loss, including poor dental hygiene, an unhealthy lifestyle, tooth decay, gum disease, poor nutrition, physical injuries, or dental trauma. Based on some figures published by the Australian Dental Association, the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 may have up to three missing teeth.
While most people may consider missing teeth more of a cosmetic concern, lost teeth can negatively affect your oral health and self-confidence. Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, several effective treatment options are available to replace missing teeth and prevent or stop oral health issues caused by one or more teeth missing in the mouth.
How To Avoid Tooth Loss
According to this dentist in Perth, tooth decay and periodontal disease, aka gum disease, are among the most common causes of tooth loss. However, these dental health issues can be prevented with preventive dentistry.
What are the potential long-term consequences associated with not replacing missing teeth?
When you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, here’s what can happen over time:
- Tooth Movement: The teeth next to and opposite the gap can shift into the space. This can make your teeth crooked, leading to bite problems and making it harder to clean your teeth properly.
- Jawbone Loss: Your jawbone needs the pressure from chewing to maintain its strength. Without a tooth, the bone in that area weakens and shrinks, which can change the shape of your face and make you look older.
- Chewing Difficulties: Missing teeth can make it harder to chew, especially if you’re missing molars (the big teeth at the back). This can mean you might not eat certain foods, potentially missing important nutrients.
- Speech Issues: Your teeth help you talk clearly. Missing teeth, particularly at the front, can affect how you pronounce some words.
- Gum Disease and Decay: Gaps can trap food, leading to a build-up of bacteria. This increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay in your remaining teeth.
- Extra Pressure on Other Teeth: The rest of your teeth have to take up the slack when you’re missing a tooth, which can lead to wear and tear and even more tooth loss.
Talk to a local dentist near you about options like dental implants, bridges, or dentures is recommended. These options help you look and feel better and protect against these long-term risks.
This is general advice; getting personal advice from the local dentist is important. They can help you understand the best options for your situation.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Several dental problems can be prevented if you maintain proper dental health. Brushing your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste is integral to your dental health routine and can help prevent dental issues before they become a threat.
Using the correct brushing technique is also of utmost importance. Make sure you are giving all your teeth enough time and attention. According to the American Dental Association, everyone should brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes.
Flossing at least once daily is essential and should not be ignored because many food particles can get stuck between teeth and may lead to oral issues like bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease if not removed by proper flossing.
Flossing at least once daily is essential and should not be ignored because many food particles can get stuck between teeth and may lead to oral issues like bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease if not removed by proper flossing.
Have a Healthy Diet
Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria covering your teeth after you eat or drink and, if not removed, can pose problems like gum disease and tooth decay.
People who smoke a lot and have lots of sugary or starchy foods or drinks may get more plaque than others.
Overindulging in sugary foods and drinks is highly damaging to your teeth and gums and may elevate the risk of dental decay. The sugar in these foods will combine with plaque bacteria in your mouth and create acid to attack your teeth’s enamel. Acid production leads to the loss of tooth structure and paves the way for dental decay, cavities, and eventually missing tooth.
Overindulging in sugary foods and drinks is highly damaging to your teeth and gums and may elevate the risk of dental decay. The sugar in these foods will combine with plaque bacteria in your mouth and create acid to attack your teeth’s enamel. Acid production leads to the loss of tooth structure and paves the way for dental decay, cavities, and eventually missing tooth.
Quit Smoking
Tobacco products can seriously threaten dental health, causing tooth discolouration, gum disease, and halitosis (bad breath). Chewing tobacco-based products are not harmless either and cannot be considered a safe alternative to cigarettes! All tobacco-based products carry risks for your health.
Schedule Regular Dental Check-ups with a Dentist
You must schedule an appointment with a local dentist in Brisbane regularly to ensure gum and teeth health, even if no natural teeth are left in your mouth. Regular dental check-ups allow you to spot dental problems early and seek treatment. Dentists will conduct thorough oral examinations during dental checkups to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.
Moreover, routine teeth cleaning will remove dental plaque from your teeth before it travels beneath your gums and cause damage to the teeth and gums.
Wear a Mouth Guard
Damage to the mouth, teeth, lips, or jaw is sometimes inevitable while playing some high-contact sports. Wearing mouthguards while playing can significantly reduce the risk of dental injuries and missing teeth.
Missing Teeth Problems
Consequences of Missing Teeth
Missing teeth are not just a cosmetic concern, contrary to popular belief. A gap left in the mouth can create other problems as well.
The following are some of the consequences of not replacing missing teeth.
Difficulty Chewing Food
We need all our teeth for proper eating and chewing our favourite foods. Chewing and biting down on certain foods can be challenging if you have a lost tooth (especially back teeth). People may change their diet and shift to eating softer foods which, in the long run, may miss out on many nutritious foods. Therefore, malnutrition may be the next consequence of missing teeth.
Did you know:
The chances of replacing missing teeth at the back of our mouth are low. That’s because many assume that missing teeth located at the back of the mouth will not affect our look; therefore, replacement tooth procedures are unnecessary.
Shifting Teeth Problems
Missing teeth may cause the nearby teeth to move from their place and shift towards the space left by a lost tooth. When the neighbouring teeth shift to empty spaces, they may cause jaw misalignment, difficulty flossing, plaque buildup, dental decay, and gum disease.
Losing teeth may also lead to bite misalignment and crooked teeth due to shifting the adjacent teeth towards the space.
Bite Problems
Shifting of the existing teeth can cause changes in your bite. This change may lead to gum recession, jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) problems, sensitive teeth, bruxism, and cracked teeth.
Speech Issues
We need our teeth to articulate some words, and without our teeth, we may sound slurred or self-conscious while talking. It may be hard to believe, but missing teeth can affect your speech. Missing front teeth may cause people to slur some words.
Bone Loss
Patients are recommended to replace missing teeth within six months to decrease the risk of bone loss. Bone deterioration may be another consequence when a natural tooth is lost and not replaced for long. Bone loss can occur because teeth are no longer there to support and stimulate the jaw bone; as a result, the jaw bone may become weaker over time. A dental implant will replace the lost tooth root and stimulate bone growth.
Lower Self-Esteem
Facial muscles receive support from your teeth. Your facial structure will be affected when you lose one or several teeth. Lips and cheeks may become sunken if not supported by the teeth, giving you an aging look. Changes in the shape of the lips and chin and sunken appearance may affect your confidence over time.
Some mental health problems like depression and anxiety are also linked to missing teeth, which is due to feeling embarrassed about having a broken smile.
Further Tooth Loss
If missing teeth are not replaced, they may risk other teeth’ lives as well. The remaining teeth may crack or become loose at the root, or worse, fall out due to a weakened jaw bone due to missing teeth.
Unfortunately, the risks of losing more natural teeth are higher when a missing tooth is not replaced.
Tooth Replacement Options for Missing Teeth
Dental implants serve as artificial tooth roots surgically implanted into the patient’s jawbone using a titanium post to keep artificial teeth. A dental implant is preferable to dentures or dental bridges because implants will fuse with the jaw bone, encourage the growth of natural bone, and prevent jawbone deterioration.
The following dental procedures can replace missing teeth and improve oral health and confidence.
Dental implants: Dental implants are great options to replace missing teeth permanently. Whether you have lost just one tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants can replace your missing tooth roots and restore your smile.
Other tooth replacement options include dental bridges and removable dentures.
