Losing teeth can be more problematic than plain old aesthetic reasons. That’s because you might stop eating foods you love. This can ruin your quality of life and make you sad. It’ll also affect your self-esteem and how you feel about your smile. What are some of the most common problems caused by missing teeth? Here is more information about them.
Problems Chewing
Let’s say that your favorite foods all need a lot of chewing before you can swallow. Having missing teeth makes this more difficult than it needs to be. All of that pain will make you reluctant to eat, and you will run into malnutrition and other health conditions as a result. This is why you shouldn’t let your diet change too radically even if you have teeth that need to be replaced in one way or another.
Shifting Teeth
Did you know that your teeth can shift? They will naturally move to fill in any gaps that are present. The problem is that this is much more unpleasant than it sounds. Crowding teeth can change the alignment of your bite, causing discomfort in a different way. Tooth decay is another problem you will have to deal with, and brushing your teeth and using floss becomes a hassle as well.
Difficulty Speaking
Your teeth help you talk. In fact, every part of your mouth works together to help you speak more clearly. You might start to mumble more to mask your missing teeth, which will cause problems with your personal and professional relationships. Plus, it can negatively affect your confidence, which is never good.
Bone Problems
There are bone problems to worry about, too. Your jaw helps support your teeth and keep them in place. When you have some missing teeth, your jaw will reshape itself to help account for that change. This causes your face to shrink and the muscles there to get weaker.
How to Fix The Issues
Don’t worry though, because there are ways to fix the issues! One idea is to ask your dentist about dental implants. You could also get bridges instead. Dentures are a distinct possibility, but only if the damage is too severe.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.