Missing teeth affect not only someone’s appearance but also their health. People lose their teeth for a variety of reasons, including tooth decay, gum disease, and other bodily diseases. Sometimes incidents such as sports injuries can lead to missing teeth as well. Lack of teeth can lead to a variety of consequences, but Dr. Klym can provide you with a solution to missing teeth.
1
Increased Risk of Oral Infection
When your tooth falls out or is extracted, it results in a large gap between your teeth. This gap leaves your gums vulnerable to bacteria. Over time, they may collect a large amount of bacteria, resulting in the surrounding teeth to become infected.
2
Higher Likelihood for Pain
Your mouth is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of your body. This is why your teeth may become sensitive to food and drinks that are too hot or too cold. Your gums are where your nerves are, so missing teeth can leave them exposed and become even more sensitive.
3
Jawbone is Weakened
While each person’s tooth and jawbone sizes vary, the jaw depends on teeth to remain strong. The jawbone supports each tooth, so even the loss of one tooth can cause the jaw to become imbalanced. Since jawbone health is dependent on strong, healthy teeth, missing teeth can cause it to weaken and deteriorate.
4
Makes Daily Functions More Difficult
Missing teeth can also affect your everyday lifestyle. Having gaps between your teeth causes you to chew unevenly and allows for food to become trapped between them more easily. They can also create difficulty when eating your favorite foods.
Your speech may be affected by missing teeth as well. Our teeth play a vital role in the way we form words and create sounds when we talk. When any of those teeth are missing, it becomes more challenging to speak efficiently and communicate with others.
5
Decreases Self- Confidence
A smile is one of the first things people notice when they meet someone new and is found to be an attractive feature as well. Having missing teeth can cause people to become less confident and hide their mouth when they smile or talk around others.
When someone suffers from an incomplete smile, they may be less likely to go out and meet new people or attend social events.
6
Alters Facial Structure
Your facial structure is determined by the size of your teeth and jawbone, and the facial skin and tissue forms around the shape of these features. Missing teeth can cause your cheeks to sag, which can lead to premature wrinkles. This may make you look older and add years to your appearance.
Contact Dr. Klym to Restore Your Smile
If left untreated, missing teeth can lead to painful consequences. Dr. Klym can restore these teeth and save you from disease or embarrassment by placing dental implants.
Contact us at our Petoskey office if you’re missing one or more teeth and want to avoid the unnecessary consequences.