Not only does missing teeth affect the appearance of your smile, but it can also be a challenging experience, both physically and emotionally. From difficulties in eating your favourite foods to a lack of confidence, the consequences of living with missing teeth are many. 

In this blog, we will explore the causes of missing teeth and why it’s important to replace missing teeth with tooth replacement solutions. 

Causes of Missing Teeth 

Tooth loss can occur at any age and sneak up on you due to various reasons. The most common reasons for missing teeth are: 

• Gum disease – Plaque can accumulate along the gum line, causing your gums to deteriorate and infection to gradually damage the supporting bone, eventually leading to tooth loss. 
• Tooth decay – Left untreated, tooth decay and cavities can spread deeper into the tooth, causing root infections. In such cases, we may have to extract the affected tooth to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of your teeth. 
• Dental injuries and trauma – Injuries and trauma to your mouth during sports, physical activities or accidents can cause tooth loss. 
• Genetic and medical conditions – Sometimes, your permanent teeth may not grow in at all, leaving gaps in your smile because of certain genetic conditions. Moreover, certain medications for medical conditions, too, can lead to dental problems and tooth loss. 

What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

If you assume that your missing teeth don’t need replacing, think again. Missing teeth, left untreated, can significantly affect your health and quality of life. Some of the implications of missing teeth include: 

Difficulty Eating

Chewing and eating can become difficult when you have missing teeth. As a result, you may have to restrict your diet, which can impact your overall health. At the same time, you may begin to chew using just one side of your mouth, and this can strain your jaw muscles, causing pain. 

Speech Difficulties 

When you lose teeth, it can hamper your ability to speak. This is because your teeth play an important role along with your lips and tongue in the pronunciation of words. 

Bone Loss & Facial Changes 

If your missing teeth are not replaced, it can cause your jawbone to deteriorate. This is because your bone lacks the stimulation it needs to maintain its density. As a result, it can alter the appearance of your facial muscles, changing your appearance and making future dental procedures more complex than they need to be. 

Affects Your Confidence 

The gaps caused by missing teeth can also result in low confidence. It can also make you self-conscious about your own appearance, make you camera-shy and affect your social and professional life.  

Impact on Your Social Life

Missing teeth can affect your social and day-to-day activities, leading you to avoid social gatherings, smiling or laughing in public and mingling with people. As a result, you may find yourself withdrawing from friends, family and social activities you once enjoyed. 

At Warrnambool Smile Dental, we want to put an end to your anxiety or fear and help you get the treatment you need. We will help you restore your smile with our durable and natural-looking tooth replacement options, which include dental implant solutions like single-tooth implants, implant bridges, All-on-X implants and implant-supported dentures. 

Contact our friendly team for a consultation and take the first step towards a more confident you.