Effects of Tooth Loss
Marysville, WA
 Several reasons can lead to tooth loss, from accidents to poor oral hygiene. Regardless of the reason, the effects of tooth loss on your oral cavity can vary.
While many people feel that as long as tooth loss is not obvious and the gap is not noticeable, there is no need to replace the tooth, but that’s not the case. Tooth loss can lead to several other dental issues that can affect your overall health and confidence. Therefore, it is critical to replace your missing teeth, and it is equally important to seek dental care proactively to avoid tooth loss in the first place. There are several effects of tooth loss.
Shifting of Other Teeth in the Oral Cavity
In case of tooth loss, the surrounding teeth in the oral cavity shift their position to fill in the empty space. While it is a gradual process, this shifting of teeth in the oral cavity can lead to the misalignment of your other teeth in the oral cavity, causing difficulties in chewing and leading to irregular bites. Moreover, the teeth shifting in the oral cavity can also have an aesthetic concern as it can potentially compromise your smile.
Deterioration of Jaw Bone
Another possible implication of tooth loss is the deterioration of the jaw bone. Natural tooth roots stimulate the jaw bone that keeps the bone healthy. However, in the case of a missing tooth, the jaw bone doesn’t get the required stimulation that keeps it strong and healthy. As a result, the jaw bone tends to get weaker. One of the most significant concerns associated with a weaker jawbone is that it can cause your healthy teeth to become loose, and you might end up losing more teeth.
Oral Cavity Concerns
Once your jaw bone gets weaker, it can lead to other oral cavity concerns, such as gum disease. When you lose teeth and the health of your jawbone starts to get affected, it is common for the gums to begin receding. This can lead to periodontal disease, which can further deteriorate the health of your oral cavity and can also be a risk to your overall health.
Effects on Your General Health
The effects of tooth loss can extend and increase the risk of other health concerns. In case you develop periodontal disease due to missing teeth, it can increase your risk of several serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and even some types of cancers.
Moreover, if you have more than one missing tooth, it can also affect your ability to chew and eat food, which, in turn, can cause nutritional deficiencies and affect your overall health and wellbeing.
Changes in Facial Structure
Your jawbone holds your teeth, but it also helps maintain your facial structure. In case of multiple tooth losses that are not replaced, the jaw bone weakens and can lead to facial collapse, which can dramatically impact your facial structure and appearance, making you look much older than you are.
Fortunately, we are living in an age where restorative dentistry has advanced tremendously, and we have solutions to dental problems like missing teeth. At Grove Street Family Dentistry, you can find comprehensive restorative dentistry solutions that can restore your teeth, your smile, and your confidence. To learn more, call our office at (360) 659-3200 today.
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