All of us want to have beautiful smiles.
Having a complete set of teeth until we grow old is ideal. But, certain circumstances can cause us to lose a tooth. Children losing their baby teeth is normal, and it’s a proud moment for parents. But parents and other adults losing their teeth? Not so much.
Losing one or two of your teeth may seem trivial, but the effects of missing teeth are serious enough that they threaten our overall health and well-being. Reduced nutritional intake is one of the dangers of missing teeth. Not having enough teeth may discourage one from eating because chewing is difficult. It may also cause digestive problems because food is not broken down properly.
Losing teeth is inevitable. It can happen at any age, and most of the time, it is preventable. Sunrise Dentistry is here to help you understand the dangers of missing teeth to make sure you’re healthy well into your senior years.
Common Risk Factors of Tooth Loss
Certain risk factors lead to missing teeth that cause serious health problems. Practicing good oral hygiene, maintaining a healthy diet, and living a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent certain risk factors like:
1. Poor Dental Hygiene
Missing dental appointments, bad brushing techniques, not flossing, and other poor dental habits cause plaque to build up. Acid from plaque damages and weakens your tooth’s enamel, eventually leading to tooth decay. However, that is not your only problem. Plaque buildup also leads to more serious problems like gum disease.
Periodontitis is the worst form of gum disease, where your gums recede from your teeth, creating spaces that become full of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, exposing your teeth to damage. If not treated, periodontitis leads to tissue and bone loss, and you may eventually lose one or more of your teeth.
2. Genetics
Your genetic makeup also puts you at risk of tooth loss. A study found that people with the beta-defensin 1 gene are more likely to develop tooth decay in their permanent teeth.
Genetics also play a role in the development of cleft lip or palate. These are conditions where the upper lip or the roof of the mouth is split. Those born with the condition may not have all of their teeth.
Genetics is also connected to teeth misalignment. Crooked teeth or overcrowding make cleaning teeth difficult and affect your oral health. Dentists often recommend braces to reduce overcrowding and straighten your teeth, helping fix the problem.
3. Drinking and Smoking
Smoking and drinking result in serious consequences for the human body. They decrease blood flow, putting you at risk of gum disease. They also weaken the immune system, slowing the healing process down when your gums get damaged. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43% of people 65 and older who smoke have lost all their teeth. The same is true for binge drinkers.
4. Uncontrolled Diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels and many dental problems. It also reduces saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth that slows down healing.
An infection or minor wound may gradually worsen over time. This increases the chances of gum disease development and tooth loss, which is 50% more likely in diabetes patients.
5. Aging
Aging is inevitable. People are more likely to develop health problems with age that affect oral health; the CDC states that periodontal disease is a major problem in 70.1% of older adults. It is also a risk factor for tooth loss.
Tooth loss is more common with increasing age. Adults over 65 are more likely to lose their teeth. Males 75 years of age are more likely to experience complete tooth loss in contrast to the younger population.
6. Inadequate Professional Dental Care
Regular dental visits are essential in maintaining good oral health. It helps dentists monitor your oral health, spot minor dental problems, and allow them to perform proper cleaning and maintenance on your teeth.
These significantly help your oral health. People who don’t regularly visit dentists miss out on professional dental care and are more likely to develop periodontal disease and missing teeth.
8 Effects of Missing Teeth
Learning about the potential dangers of missing teeth will help you be more cautious and strict about your dental care. Your looks and self-esteem are not the only problems you’ll have if one or two of your teeth are missing.
Some of the effects of missing teeth are:
1. Eating Problems
Teeth make it easier for the stomach to digest food. We use our incisors to bite off pieces of our food and our premolars and molars to grind and break food down into smaller pieces before swallowing it.
Tooth loss can significantly affect chewing and food consumption, leading to digestive problems and reduced nutrient intake. People with missing teeth might change their diets, preferring to eat foods that are easy to eat instead of nutritious foods that require more chewing.
2. Bone Loss
Your jawbone holds all of your teeth together. Chewing and grinding down your food exercises and stimulates it.
The health and well-being of your teeth affect your jawbone. Losing some of your teeth creates gaps and areas of your jawbone that are not stimulated or exercised. This leads to bone deterioration and resorption, where the body absorbs calcium from the jaw to distribute it throughout the body.
3. Crooked Teeth
Your missing teeth leave gaps that your remaining teeth will try to fill in. Your teeth will shift and misalign them.
Brushing and flossing are difficult if you have crooked or misaligned teeth. Plaque formation may occur, and you might get an infection if you leave it untreated. They may also create hard-to-reach places where food particles can get stuck where bacteria and cavities grow.
4. Bite Problems
Missing teeth may cause your remaining teeth to shift, impacting how your teeth fit together when you bite. Irregular bites create bad dental habits like teeth grinding and clenching. These can cause teeth sensitivity, tension, headaches, and muscle pain.
5. Tooth Loss
A gap in your teeth can lead to more tooth loss. Gaps between your teeth may affect the health of the teeth surrounding it and lead to more missing teeth.
6. Facial Aesthetics
Your teeth are essential for maintaining the shape of your face. Your face may appear older and sunken if you don’t replace your missing teeth.
7. Speech Impediments
Teeth are also essential parts of speech; missing one or two of them may make pronouncing or enunciating certain words difficult. Missing teeth may distort, split, or create whistling sounds while you talk, affecting your ability to have meaningful interactions with other people.
8. Chronic Health Problems
One of the effects of missing teeth is the development of chronic health problems. Bacteria buildup in the gaps your missing teeth previously occupied may spread to other parts of the body and lead to serious health problems, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
Dental Treatment Options For Tooth Loss
There are many options available to replace missing teeth, depending on the severity of the damage needing repair. Your dentist will determine the best procedure for your teeth.
Some of the options they may recommend for missing teeth include:
1. Dental Implants
Dentists surgically insert an anchor into your jawbone and attach a dental crown to it. Dental implants look and feel similar to natural teeth and last for many years with proper care.
2. Dental Bridges
Dentists use dental bridges for both cosmetic and restorative purposes. They are implant-supported tooth replacements that fill the gap created by one or two missing teeth. They are easy to get used to, and they function and look similar to natural teeth.
3. Dentures
Dentures are the most common option for replacing missing teeth. They allow dentists to replace multiple teeth or an entire teeth arch; they’ll make sure to choose the best type of denture that suits your needs. They are also cost-effective and non-invasive treatment options for replacing missing teeth.
Fight the Dangers of Missing Teeth with Sunrise Dentistry
We are dedicated to giving you the best oral care to help keep your teeth healthy for years to come.
We offer many services, including general dentistry and implant dentistry. All of these services will help you have a beautiful and healthy smile. Book a consultation with our dentists in Durango, CO, to get started today!
