Importance of Healthy Teeth

Having a healthy set of teeth is not only for sustenance, but it is also for better social allure and interaction. Teeth are very important for chewing food. Our teeth help us look good and boost our self-confidence. There are many reasons why you could lose your teeth.

1. Bad oral hygiene causes acid producing bacteria to accumulate on your teeth surface which cause cavities in your teeth by demineralizing the tooth enamel. It also causes periodontal disease which destroys supporting tissues such as ligaments and bones. This can lead to loss of teeth.

2. Irregular dental check-ups may cause a few signs of impending tooth loss to go unnoticed. You may not notice the hard deposits below the gum line or a slight mobility in your teeth that need to be professionally treated. A slightly mobile tooth can be saved if treated on time.

3. Not getting teeth with caries treated can worsen the condition over time. It may irritate the inner pulp of your teeth leading to the death of the pulp tissue and pus formation around the roots of the teeth.

4. Poor nutrition with lack of certain nutrients in your diet can decrease your mouth’s resistance to infection. Calcium is responsible for mineral density of bone supporting the teeth. Decreased calcium intake affect tooth retention and has been associated with increased risk of tooth loss.

5. Not correcting malocclusions (improper position of teeth) can also cause tooth loss. If your teeth are not well aligned, it is very difficult to effectively clean them. Such teeth become more prone to tartar deposits leading to gum and periodontal problems which are major causes of tooth loss.

6. Smoking or using smokeless tobacco, alcohol increase your risk of developing gum disease which in turn can lead to tooth loss.

7. Diabetes reduces your body’s immunity which in turn increases plaque formation. Gum disease can happen more often, be more severe, and take longer to heal. In advanced stages of gum disease there is loss of bone and connective tissue in the mouth, which results in tooth loss.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT REPLACING MISSING TEETH

1. When teeth are missing it can lead to jaw bone loss at the site of the gap In the same way that exercising your body helps keep muscle tone, jaw bone mass is maintained through the stimulation of chewing and biting. When a tooth is missing, the area of bone where the tooth was originally located no longer receives such stimulation and it starts to disappear — a process called resorption. 2. The remaining teeth can become misaligned, drift into the gap or loosen Without a neighboring tooth to keep them in check, remaining teeth may start to drift. This could make it difficult to bite and chew if the teeth are no longer aligned properly. Furthermore.

3. Missing teeth may alter facial features Without teeth being in place to ‘support’ the face, a person’s facial features may start to look distorted, with sunken cheeks and skin wrinkling around the mouth.

4. Missing teeth can cause chronic headaches If you had a diseased tooth which caused you pain and had to be removed, you may believe that your problems are over. However, this is not the case. When teeth are missing the remaining teeth have no opposite number to rest on or bite against. The remaining teeth may start to over erupt and cause damage to the opposing gum. Not only does this cause gum and facial pain, but with time the situation causes stress at the jaw joint (Temporo Mandibular Joint) leading to chronic headaches.

5. Inability to talk properly A lack of lack of teeth can make it difficult for people to pronounce certain words properly and they may have a whistling sound each time they speak.

6. Inadequate nutrition When people can’t bite and chew their food properly without pain, many simply eat less or choose to eat only soft food which doesn’t provide them with all the nutrients they require. Consequently, this takes a toll on the health of their whole body.

7. Sinus expansion If teeth are lost from the back upper jaw, the sinus cavity which lies above, will start to expand and erode the jaw bone.

HOW TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH?

Removable Partial Denture A removable partial denture, which is worn during the day, can replace one or many missing teeth. Sometimes a partial denture may need metal clasps to help it stay in the mouth. Unfortunately, these metal clasps may be visible when speaking or smiling. Another disadvantage of a removable partial denture is that they can move a little when speaking or eating, which can be uncomfortable. We recommend taking them out at night and soaking them in a cleaning solution. A full denture can replace all missing teeth. Bridge A bridge is an option when there are teeth on either side of the missing tooth. A bridge is a fixed solution that stays cemented in the mouth and does not come out. This method involves cutting down the teeth on either side of the missing tooth to be able to connect them together. The disadvantages for bridges are cutting down teeth that might be perfectly healthy. A bridge can replace one or two missing teeth easily, and sometimes more if there is enough support. Dental Implant An implant is a great way to replace a missing tooth. This solution feels and acts the most like a natural tooth when chewing, brushing or smiling. The implant replaces the actual root of the missing tooth and heals in the bone for several months. An implant is a great solution for a single missing tooth, and even more implants can replace many missing teeth. People often underestimate the impact that missing teeth will have on their looks and their health but the changes above are likely to occur, to some extent, in the majority of people who have lost multiple teeth.