How Losing a Tooth Affects Your Oral Health

The problem with losing a tooth is that the implications of the loss can have many more consequences than you realize. Like most other dental health concerns, those that arise from the loss of a tooth will continue to grow worse the longer they’re left unaddressed. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer the long-term effects of tooth loss or its impact on your oral health by replacing the lost tooth with a dental implant-supported restoration.

Your bite doesn’t work the same

The appearance of your smile is one of the most notable impacts of tooth loss, but the empty space among your teeth is more than just a visual problem. That emptiness also has a significant impact on the overall balance of your bite when you bite and chew, and the resulting imbalance can lead to several additional risks to your teeth. For example, the uneven pressure can cause some teeth to become damaged, while the empty space can cause other teeth to shift toward it as they attempt to restore your bite’s balance. The more you bite and chew without replacing the lost tooth, the more your bite’s function can diminish as a result.

You’re more at-risk for other risks

Because of how your remaining teeth and oral structures react to the loss of a tooth, the condition can also create several risks to your oral health that would otherwise be more manageable. Common conditions like tooth decay and gum disease develop from excess buildup of plaque on your teeth and gum tissues. With one or more teeth missing, bacteria and plaque have a much better chance of hiding somewhere your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. This can significantly raise your risks of developing a chronic oral health issue that, in combination with your unaddressed tooth loss, can leave your smile and oral health and substantial risk.

You lose more than what you see

The loss of a tooth seems like an obvious condition, but not all of the consequences are things that you can easily see or feel in your bite function. While you can’t see the root of a tooth, which is meant to rest within your jawbone, the results of losing one can be profound to your oral health. For example, losing the root causes stimulation in your jawbone to diminish, and over time, this can lead to the loss of mass and density in the bone structure. Your remaining healthy, natural teeth will lose the support they need to remain stable, increasing your risks of experiencing further tooth loss.

Learn how to bounce back from tooth loss

Tooth loss can affect almost every aspect of your oral health, but fortunately, you can largely limit those effects with a dental implant restoration. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at (641) 628-1121.