What Are The Consequences Of Missing Teeth For Your Health?
It’s not uncommon for individuals to be missing one or more teeth. Whether it’s due to an accident, infection, gum disease, or another cause, missing teeth don’t just affect your mouth and appearance, but your overall health as well. Because your mouth is connected to the rest of your body, missing teeth can have serious health consequences. If you’re missing a tooth, visit our Columbus dental clinic for treatment right away.
Some of the ways missing teeth affect your health include:
Bone Loss
Failure to treat a missing tooth is the leading cause of bone loss in the jaw, which can seriously affect the appearance of the face and cause jaw pain. Teeth are designed to support the jawbone. When they are missing, the bone in that area begins to atrophy, leading to pain and sunken appearance in the face. Dental implants and bone grafts can solve this problem, not only improving the appearance of your smile, but also protecting your jawbone from deterioration.
Imbalanced pH
For optimal health, your mouth needs to maintain a certain pH balance. When teeth are lost, the mouth becomes more acidic, leaving your other teeth and gum at increased risk of bacterial attack and decay.
Bacteria Can Spread Throughout Your Body
Your gums are filled with tiny blood vessels that carry oxygen, healing properties, blood cells, and nutrients to your mouth. When the blood flows away from your mouth, it can carry bad bacteria to other areas of your body, including your brain and heart. In serious cases, the spread of bacteria can result in serious illnesses, increasing your risk of diabetes, cancer, and even heart disease. That’s why scheduling an appointment with your dentist and treating missing teeth can be a crucial part of maintaining your overall health.
Difficulty Eating & Chewing
If you’re missing one or more teeth, it’s likely that you’ll have difficulty eating and chewing. This can lead to serious disappointment when you can no longer enjoy your favorite food. Missing front teeth can be especially challenging with breaking off food, while molars can make grinding or chewing much more difficult. Additionally, inability to chew properly can lead to acid reflux and other digestive complications. The good news is that missing teeth are replaceable with a variety of treatment options. Ask your Columbus cosmetic dentist for their recommendations on how to replace missing teeth so you can regain a healthy smile and enjoy eating again.
Difficulty Speaking
Bone loss, changes to your facial shape, and missing teeth can make speaking difficult because you won’t be able to form words properly. Feeling nervous about spending time with people because of their missing teeth can make it difficult for individuals to socialize, try new experiences, and maintain relationships, causing mental health challenges and poor quality of life.
Mental Health Can Decline
Many people who are missing teeth are unhappy with the way they look, which can lead to isolation, difficulty talking with people, avoidance of opportunities such as a job interview, and more. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. When your dentist replaces a missing tooth with a crown, denture, or implant, your confidence will increase, as you’ll feel better about your smile and appearance.
Increased Risk Of Premature Birth
Many people don’t realize that missing teeth leave the body vulnerable to bacterial infections. Once the bad bacteria start to travel throughout the body, they can cause serious complications, which include premature birth and jeopardizing the health of an unborn baby. If you are pregnant, it’s important to see a trusted dentist in Columbus regularly to protect your oral health and your pregnancy.
How Can I Protect My Teeth?
If you are missing one or more teeth, it’s important to visit an experienced dentist as soon as possible. There are many treatment options for missing teeth that can protect your overall health, boost the health of your mouth, and improve how you feel about your appearance. These include dental implants, bridges, crowns, and dentures. Regular cleanings twice a year can go a long way toward identifying any infections or cavities in the early stages when they can be quickly and effectively treated.
Daily oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing twice a day, are other important steps to protect your teeth from decay.
Protect Your Health With Gentle Dental Care In Columbus
Are you wondering how your missing teeth might be negatively affecting your overall health? Schedule your appointment with the friendly team at US Dental & Medical Care. Whether you need routine cleaning, dentures, emergency services, or cosmetic care, we are ready to help you regain health and a beautiful smile in a compassionate and supportive dental environment. Our office accepts a wide variety of insurance plans and financing with affordable cash pay options so that everyone can benefit from our quality dental care! Contact us today to get started on your journey to a beautiful smile!
US Dental and Medical Care
949 E Livingston Ave,
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 252-3181
Website: https://usdentalmedical.com
