What Happens If I Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?
If you have missing teeth, you may be wondering if you need to have them replaced. Especially if you are only missing one tooth, you may feel like investing in tooth replacement isn’t necessary, or at least isn’t necessary right now. But just because you aren’t missing several or all of your natural teeth doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t need to replace the ones that are missing. In fact, ignoring your missing teeth can have a significant impact on your oral and physical health. Below is more information on what can happen if you don’t replace your missing teeth.
Negative Consequences of Having Missing Teeth
If you choose not to replace your missing teeth, you may be increasing your chances of the following:
1. Misaligned Teeth: Having a missing tooth will result in a gap in the teeth where the missing tooth once was. When you have a gap in your mouth, the teeth around the gap may start to shift into the space, causing your teeth to become misaligned and issues with your bite. An irregular bite can result in extra wear and tear on the other teeth, and eventually serious damage.
2. Tooth Loss: As your healthy teeth shift into the gap, the roots of the teeth may weaken. This can impact the health and integrity of the surrounding teeth and can result in further tooth loss. Misaligned bite from the missing teeth, can also cause over-use and weakening of healthy teeth in other parts of your mouth.
3. Bone Loss: When teeth are no longer anchored in the jaw bone, the result may be deterioration of the jaw bone itself. A dental implant that takes the place of the missing tooth is one of the best ways to prevent the occurrence of bone loss.
4. Deteriorating Health: If you have missing or broken teeth it may become difficult to eat a wide variety of healthy and nutritious foods. A limited diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies over time which can negatively affect your overall health. Without proper nutrition you may eventually develop serious medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
5. Headaches: A misaligned bite may cause irregular chewing on one side of the mouth to avoid the side with the missing tooth. Irregular chewing overtime may lead to the uneven use of muscles which can cause chronic or persistent headaches.
Overall, having missing teeth can impact more than just the look of your smile. Immediately, a missing tooth can affect the mouth’s function, such as chewing and eating, and overtime missing teeth can affect your overall health. Missing teeth that are not replaced can lead to serious and costly dental issues. If you’re missing a tooth, and have been for a while, you should consider calling your dental provider and scheduling a visit to discuss tooth replacement options. Your provider will help you find a replacement treatment that is effective, affordable, and the right fit for you.