Dangers of Missing Teeth

From a blow to the mouth to poor dental hygiene to drug use, there are many reasons for missing teeth. If you’re among the 120 million Americans with at least one missing tooth, you know that the impact to your smile is usually top of mind.

But missing teeth are more than just a danger to your smile. Missing teeth can cause a host of trouble for your overall and dental health. If you’re missing a tooth, schedule a dental checkup as soon as possible. 

For folks with missing teeth in the Butte, Montana, area, Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, offers restorative care to help restore your pearly whites and maintain excellent dental health. In the meantime, keep reading to learn why you shouldn’t ignore missing teeth.

Why should I worry about missing teeth?

Having missing teeth opens your mouth to a long list of potential problems that extend far beyond a less-than-perfect smile. Some of these affect only your oral health, while others are whole-body problems. Here’s a closer look at both.

Dangers to your oral health

Not replacing a missing tooth (or teeth) leads to bone loss in your jaw. Your teeth help support your jaw and stimulate new bone growth. A missing tooth can lead to more bone loss and even change your facial appearance. 

Although your teeth attach to your jawbone, they can move and shift over time for many reasons, like age-related gum recession. When you’re missing teeth, this process speeds up. And when one tooth moves, others follow in a domino effect. 

Missing teeth can also affect your bite, which can cause problems with eating, unnatural wear patterns on your teeth, dental sensitivity, more tooth loss, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ can lead to:

• Chronic headaches
• Head, face, and neck pain
• Problems sleeping

Depending on which teeth are missing, you might have trouble biting and chewing some foods. Missing front teeth generally cause the most trouble because you use them most often for taking bites of food. Missing molars also cause problems, since you use them to grind up your food. 

Missing teeth leave open spots in your gums. These pockets are beacons for bacteria, which can lead to infection and gum disease. This disease, called periodontitis or periodontal disease can cause serious damage to your teeth and oral health.

Dangers to your overall health

Because missing teeth lead to gum disease, missing teeth are a gateway for overall health issues. Researchers have found a strong link between periodontitis and overall health problems, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Endocarditis
• Pregnancy and birth complications
• Pneumonia and other respiratory issues
• Diabetes
• Mental health disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Kidney disease
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Missing teeth are even connected to certain cancers. For example, one study found gum disease increased the risk of lung cancer in lifelong nonsmokers by 2.5 times, and a different study found a causal link between the bacteria from gum disease and esophageal cancer. 

Can anything restore my dental health after missing teeth?

Yes! The good news is that many of the issues listed above are preventable or treatable with restorative dentistry. 

Many solutions exist, and Dr. Wilcox and our dental care team carefully evaluate your existing teeth, gums, jaw, and overall oral health before creating a personalized treatment plan for your missing teeth. These treatments may include:

• Dental implants
• Dentures
• Bridges

Dr. Wilcox works to find the best possible solution for your needs and budget. Don’t let missing teeth cause problems for your overall or oral health. Schedule an appointment at our Butte, Montana, office today.