When you lose one or a few of your teeth, either from injuries (trauma) to the mouth, illness, tooth decay, or poor oral hygiene, it is crucial that you seek a tooth replacement solution immediately.
This is because a missing tooth (even the non-visible ones in the back of your mouth) doesn’t just affect your smile but puts you at risk for some very real and serious oral health issues. Remember that each tooth plays an important role in the harmony of your mouth’s function, appearance, structure, and health.
So, before you choose to forego teeth replacement solutions and live with the loss, take a look at some of the top reasons why you should replace missing teeth with a service like dental implants Sutton.
Bone Loss Prevention
Jawbone loss or bone resorption is one of the conditions that result when a tooth is lost, and natural roots are no longer embedded in the jawbone. When the missing tooth is not replaced, the lack of stimulation and support in the jaw now causes the jawbone to shrink and the gums to pull back.
Bone loss can be a very serious complication, so it is important that you replace missing teeth before it gets to worrying levels.
To Prevent Changes in Face Shape
The teeth play a vital role in supporting the structure and shape of the face, which means that failing to replace missing teeth can drastically change your appearance. Missing teeth can cause jawbone loss, and a reduced jawbone will, in turn, make your face look sunken, wrinkly, and older. The gaps left by missing teeth can also affect your smile.
Preventing TMJ Disorder
When you don’t replace missing teeth, the function of your temporomandibular joint or TMJ (the muscles just under the eyes and in front of your ears) may be affected. This is due to the fact that missing teeth cause an imbalance in the jaws, which then leads to an uneven distribution of pressure when you chew. TMJ problems can be dangerous and cause extreme pain, so it is important that you don’t let things get that far.
To Prevent Speaking and Chewing Difficulties
Missing teeth leave large gaps (spaces) between the teeth, and this can often affect the way you eat and speak. This is because your teeth play an important role in speech. Some of the speech issues you may develop with missing teeth include; finding it hard to pronounce certain words, experiencing slurring, whistling, and spitting when you speak.
The teeth are also important for tearing and gnashing food, so missing one or a few of them can cause eating difficulties. Simple things like breaking off bits of food become problematic when you’re missing front teeth. Missing molars will also affect how you chew most foods.
To Prevent Teeth Shifting
When you don’t replace missing teeth as quickly as possible, neighbouring teeth may start to drift from their original positions into the space left by the missing teeth, thus, creating unsightly gaps in the mouth. The rest of your teeth may also become tilted, resulting in tooth decay, bite problems, and gum disease.
The shifting of the teeth is also accompanied by the shifting of the bone that holds and supports the teeth, which then leads to deformities in the jaw’s bone structure and the face.
Conclusion
Missing teeth should never be ignored. It is a problem that negatively impacts the way you eat, speaks, and smile. Luckily there are several teeth replacement solutions available that will not only restore your smile but improve your quality of life. Dental bridges and implants are excellent options for teeth replacement.
Should you dump your moisturiser?
