There are several reasons why someone might lose a tooth. It can happen due to an accident, poor dental hygiene, or age. When it happens, you may not necessarily be in a situation to get the problem fixed with implants or dentures. However, missing teeth are bad for you. Here are four consequences of missing teeth.
Missing teeth are unappealing
Let’s be honest – missing teeth look bad. They are not aesthetically pleasing, and people want to hide it. It stands out any time you smile, so you won’t be smiling nearly as much. This can lead to social problems. It can lead to teasing and low self-esteem, too.
You may not be able to eat certain foods
You need your teeth to chew your food. Certain foods will be more difficult if you are missing teeth than others. Some difficult foods to chew when missing teeth include:
- Corn on the cob
- Steak
- Popcorn
- Raw carrots
- Nuts
If you are missing teeth, these foods can get stuck in the spaces or you might not be able to chew. That means you could choke on your food. You may not be able to eat those foods at all.
Impaired speech
The teeth in our mouth have more functions than you may realize. One of the things that teeth do is help you enunciate your words correctly. You may notice people with missing teeth slurring their words or speaking with a lisp. It makes it difficult to communicate effectively. This can have additional repercussions if you can’t communicate with your professional and personal relationships.
Damage your other teeth
One of the main consequences of missing teeth is that they cause problems for your other teeth. The other teeth may start to grow in a little differently, making them crooked. It can also cause the other teeth to damage the gums. This will make your gums inflamed. With weak gums, you may even lose more teeth, only adding to the problems you already had.
Missing teeth are not the end of the world. If you have a missing tooth (or teeth), there are options. Two of the most common options are dentures and implants. Talk to your local dentist at Mountain View Dental to learn which option is the best for you.
