4 Reasons You Should Consider Replacing Missing Teeth

Losing your teeth can feel like the end of the world. Your once-perfect smile now has noticeable gaps that almost look unsightly. You now occasionally find it painful or difficult to chew hard foods if not always. Your speech even changes as your tongue adjusts to the empty spaces where teeth used to be. 

Thankfully, modern dental technologies have made it easier than ever to replace missing teeth. Solutions like dental implants, bridges, and dentures allow you to restore your smile and retain full use of your mouth again. Here are four good reasons why you should consider replacing any missing teeth as soon as possible.

1. Improved Diet and Nutrition

Missing teeth can seriously impact your ability to eat a balanced, nutritious diet. Without a full set of teeth, you’re limited in the foods you can comfortably chew and digest. Tough, crunchy or chewy foods like raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, meats and more become difficult or impossible to eat.

This often leads people with missing teeth to gravitate towards soft, processed foods that are easier to eat but not as healthy. Nutrient deficiencies may develop over time, causing a myriad of health issues. Replace missing teeth to restore your ability to chew and enjoy a wide variety of healthy foods again.

2. Prevent Bone Loss

When teeth are lost, the stimulation they provide to the jawbone is also lost. Without this stimulation, the bone begins to break down and atrophy over time. This atrophy progresses rapidly and could lead to changes in facial structure, loose-fitting dentures, and an increased risk for fractures.

Dental implant placement halts this bone loss. The titanium implants fuse to the jawbone, replacing some of the lost stimulation. Dental bridges can also stop bone loss by transferring biting pressure to the surrounding teeth and gums.

3. Protect Your Remaining Teeth

That old saying “one bad apple spoils the bunch” can apply to your teeth too. When one tooth is lost, it puts more stress and strain on the remaining teeth during chewing. This added pressure increases wear and tear that could quickly lead to more tooth damage or loss if the gaps are not filled. It can also cause teeth to shift and move out of alignment over time, resulting in a collapsed bite. 

Replacing missing teeth, especially molars, can prevent this domino effect. It allows biting force to be distributed evenly again so surrounding teeth are not overburdened.

4. Restore Your Confidence  

Last but certainly not least, replacing missing teeth can completely reinvigorate your self-confidence. Gaps from lost teeth make most people feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their smile. Simple pleasures like laughing, speaking or eating in public become dreaded instead of enjoyed. 

But once those gaps are filled, you can easily go back to your old self with a full, beautiful smile you no longer feel the need to hide. Don’t thus underestimate how much of a difference this can make in your overall mental well-being.

Take Action – Replace Missing Teeth Now

If you have missing teeth, don’t wait to take action as it not only affects your oral health but also your overall well-being. Schedule a consultation with a dentist to discuss all your tooth replacement options. With today’s modern dental treatment options, you can easily restore your health and confidence.