17 November 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Articles

Missing teeth may not seem like a big deal at first, as long as the missing teeth are not front teeth that are immediately visible when you smile. Dental work can be expensive and time consuming, and for some patients, it can be anxiety producing. For these reasons and others, not all patients opt to have missing teeth replaced right away. But a partial denture or implant-supported denture to replace your missing teeth can have some important health benefits, and the sooner you act, the fewer negative effects of missing teeth you'll notice. Take a look at a few important health benefits of dentures. 

Oral Health

One of the problems with missing teeth is that the remaining teeth around the empty space tend not to stay put. When you have a gap in your mouth because of one or more missing teeth, the teeth around the gap will drift toward that empty space, becoming crooked. This can create something of a domino effect—the teeth around the gap will start to lean, and then the teeth next to those teeth will start to lean, and so on. 

Crooked teeth are more than just a cosmetic issue. It can be tough to clean in between teeth that have started to lean too far into each other, and that means that you're more likely to develop cavities and infections. In fact, this can lead to more tooth loss. What's more, the awkward positioning can cause pain in your gums and jaw and can even lead to neck pain and headaches. However, replacing the missing teeth with dentures can prevent the remaining teeth from drifting toward the gap, which can head off all the problems of crooked teeth before they begin. 

Digestive Health

You have the number of teeth and the placement of teeth that you have for a reason. Each type of tooth has a purpose when it comes to biting and chewing your food, and when you're missing teeth, you won't be able to chew your food correctly. The more teeth you're missing, the more pronounced the problem will become. 

This can lead to obvious problems, like choking on a bite of food that you can't swallow properly because it wasn't chewed thoroughly enough. But even if you're swallowing fine and don't notice a problem with your chewing, your missing teeth may still be having an effect. Chewing is an important part of your digestive process. Your body has trouble digesting large unchewed particles of food correctly. As a result, these particles attract bacteria, which can leave you feeling bloated or gassy. What's more, your body isn't able to extract as many nutrients from food that isn't chewed thoroughly and can't be digested properly, so you're not getting all the benefits you should be getting from your food, even if you maintain a healthy diet. 

Muscle Health

When you lose teeth, you lose some of the structure that supports the muscles in your face. Without anything to replace those teeth, your facial muscles can begin to sink in and atrophy, giving your face a sunken appearance. Eventually, this will affect more than just your cheeks, and the muscles that support your lips will also be affected. Your lips will turn downward, making it look like you're frowning unless you make an effort to smile. The more teeth you're missing, the more pronounced the effect will be. 

Using a denture gives your facial muscles the support structure they need and can prevent facial muscles from sinking in. This is not only good for the health of the muscles in your face but also preserves your facial appearance, which is good for your mental and emotional health as well. 

Missing teeth really are a big deal. If you're missing teeth, you shouldn't wait on exploring your tooth-replacement options. A partial denture or implant-supported denture can help you maintain your oral and overall health. 

Talk to a company like Bristol Dental Group to make an appointment or get more information.