Anyone who’s experienced tooth loss knows that it affects more than just your appearance. Having gaps in your smile due to missing teeth can have an adverse effect on both your physical and emotional wellbeing and can impact all areas of your life. Below, we discuss how tooth loss affects you and how Dr. Silvoy can replace your missing teeth with dental implants for an overall improvement to your health and happiness.
Tooth loss affects us by causing:
Difficulty Speaking and Eating
With gaps from missing teeth, many people may slur their words or make whistling sounds when they speak, making it difficult to communicate. These spaces also make it difficult to eat certain foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, potentially causing poor nutrition.
Oral Infection and Tooth Decay
Gaps between teeth can create food traps where it becomes more difficult to dislodge food and debris with regular brushing and flossing. This can lead to an increased risk of oral infections, such as gum disease and tooth decay.
A Weakening of the Jawbone
Without the necessary stimulation from the natural tooth’s roots, the jawbone begins to deteriorate, leading to a weaker jaw. This can affect the surrounding teeth with the potential of additional tooth loss. In addition, the loss of bone where a tooth once was can cause the facial skin to loosen and sag, leading to premature wrinkling.
Reduced Self Confidence
Unfortunately, it’s common for people who are missing one or more teeth to refrain from smiling. Over time, feeling self-conscious about smiling can affect how you feel about yourself and how you interact with others, sapping your confidence.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can improve all of the issues mentioned above, and more. They’re the only tooth replacement option that is attached directly to the jawbone, making them the closest thing to having natural teeth. The implant takes the place of the natural tooth’s roots where it stimulates the growth of the jawbone, making it strong and reducing the risk of dental issues and preventing premature wrinkling.
Dental implants look and feel natural, giving you the confidence to speak without worry and show your beautiful smile to the world. With a stable bite, you’ll no longer have to avoid certain foods that may have been difficult or impossible to chew in the past. And you’ll have the confidence knowing your oral health is protected.