What to do when you lose a tooth?

Losing a tooth as a child is not a big deal. Babies lose teeth to create room for permanent ones to grow. However, what happens when it is your permanent tooth that falls off? Unlike sharks, whose teeth regrow, a person’s permanent teeth are naturally irreplaceable. Despite this reality, it does not mean that you can ignore the toothless gap after fall-out because it will lead to oral health complications and diseases. According to World Health Organization, poor oral health is the primary cause of major oral problems amongst industrialized countries, and it affects around ten percent of the world population. Moreover, the cost of treating oral disease is exceptionally high, and it ranks among the costliest disease to treat in the United States.

What happens when you don’t seek help for your missing tooth?

When you have one or two toothless gaps in your mouth, it is easy to convince yourself that it is nothing. In addition, when concealed, they may not affect your appearance or smile. However, avoiding or delaying seeking medical treatment can lead to adverse general and oral health problems regardless of their location. Furthermore, it may lead to more costly and prolonged treatments.

Gum Disease and Tooth Decay.

The toothless gap may cause your tooth to shift, making it difficult to reach deeper surfaces when flossing and brushing. It will cause bacteria or plaque to build up, increasing the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and further tooth loss. Your bite can also change due to the moving teeth. The toothless gap puts your oral and general health at risk because gum disease causes severe health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.

Teeth Misalignment.

Teeth naturally provide support to one another, and when one is missing, it can cause the adjacent one to shift and lean into the toothless gap. The shifting can result in more movement and ultimately leading to the loosening of the adjoining ones. With time, it may result in bite problems, crooked smiles, and headaches, and pain. The misaligned teeth make it difficult to clean the adjoining spaces, leading to further loss and uncontrolled aches.

Bone Loss.

It may seem a no-brainer, but your jaw bone depends heavily on your teeth to stimulate bone growth. If you miss one or two, your bones weaken because of a lack of stimulation. Over time, it will shrink the jaw, rendering it less stable to support the remaining set. Therefore, weakened jaws mean more tooth loss.

What are your options?

Because of modern medicine, there are numerous options for filling up the toothless gap in your mouth. Although not everyone likes visiting a dentist, Austin Restorative Dentistry has helped many people with tooth problems using its properly designed dental suites. Please book an appointment with the dentist at their Toothbar, to evaluate your options. Austin Restorative Dentists will help you regain your best smile and restore your bite and mouth’s feel.