4 Surprising Reasons To Replace Missing Teeth
“Your mouth is the gateway to your body.” You must have heard of this age-old adage that has evidently stood the test of time. While it may not seem to hold much water, your mouth is, with all intents and purposes, the most important part of your body, doing its due diligence to form the connecting bridge between your body and the external environment.
According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), roughly 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth! Despite clear warnings, many individuals fail to get their missing teeth replaced.
A missing tooth is not only a cosmetic drawback but can in fact affect the health and well-being of the rest of your teeth! Still not convinced? Here are 4 important reasons why you should get your missing teeth replaced ASAP!
1. Missing teeth can encourage your teeth to shift and loosen
Teeth are held together in their stable positions when all are neatly lined up in a row. If you’re missing a tooth, however, the neighboring teeth may gravitate towards this gap to fill it, leading to teeth shifting. Furthermore, the tooth adjacent to the gap on the opposite arch may also start growing outward to fill up the space left by your missing tooth.
Teeth that drift out of place can change your bite and increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
2. Missing teeth can deteriorate surrounding bone
A common consequence of losing teeth is that your remaining teeth begin to move towards the position previously occupied by your now missing tooth. This movement can not only cause your bite and occlusion to misalign but can also promote active bone deterioration of the bone in the jaw due to a decrease in density and volume.
Under normal circumstances, your teeth act as stimulants that keep your jawbone from deteriorating. However, in the prolonged absence of one or more teeth, your mouth may lose its structure and you may end up losing more teeth than you started off with!
3. Missing teeth can change the appearance of your face
Bone deterioration due to loss of stimulation can also affect the way you look. Yes, according to the Journal of the American Dental Association, the loss of even the rearmost tooth can cause you to look older than you really are!
In fact, the more teeth you lose, the closer your nose and chin become, giving your mouth a saggy or sucked in appearance. As the lower third of your face starts drooping, you look aged and dull.
4. Missing teeth can give rise to TMJ disorder
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the sturdy joints present on each side of your face that help you chew and rotate your jaw. A missing tooth can drastically affect your bite alignment or the way your teeth fall together in occlusion. This can compromise your TMJ’s activity and cause it to swell and irritate. Hence, the loss of a tooth and subsequent failure to replace it can actually lead to TMJ disorders!
Be on the lookout for any of these symptoms of tooth loss. Today, you are readily presented with many accessible dental devices at your disposal. Dentures, bridges, or the infamous dental implants all help you win the battle against tooth loss. Try Angel Dental Care and win your lost tooth and smile back! Call us today 626-444-2002 for an appointment. We’re located in El Monte, Ca.