Tooth Loss and Your Health in Pembroke, ON

Causes of Tooth Loss

Tooth loss can be caused by several factors that significantly impact your health. Understanding the causes of tooth loss is essential to help prevent it from occurring. Here are some common causes of tooth loss:

• Poor Oral Hygiene: Neglecting your oral hygiene is the most common cause of tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. By not brushing and flossing your teeth daily, you’re highly prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Regular dental checkups help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
• High-Sugar Diets: Diets high in sugar can also lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Consuming sugary foods and drinks can cause bacteria to build up on your teeth, leading to decay and tooth loss.
• Tobacco and Drug Use: Smoking or using drugs can cause gum disease and tooth decay, which can eventually lead to tooth loss.
• Accidents: Trauma to the face caused by an accident or injury can result in tooth loss. Sports collisions, car crashes, or fights can all lead to the loss of teeth. It’s best to exercise caution to protect your teeth from damage.
• Aging: As you age, your risk for tooth loss increases. Gum tissues and jawbone naturally weaken over time and can eventually deteriorate, causing tooth loss.

Consequences of Missing Teeth

The consequences of tooth loss can be severe and impact your overall health. Here are some of the most common health risks associated with missing teeth:

• Jawbone Deterioration: When you lose a tooth, that area of your jawbone stops receiving stimulation, which can cause the jawbone to weaken and lose density. This can affect your appearance, causing a wrinkled face and hollow cheeks and causing your surrounding teeth to shift.
• Gum Disease: Empty tooth sockets are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria that spread through your gums, inflaming the tissue and causing infection. This dramatically increases your risk of developing gum disease, which can destroy your underlying bone tissue and lead to tooth loss.
• Cardiovascular Issues: The bacteria that develop in empty tooth sockets can spread throughout your body, causing inflammation that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure, increased cholesterol, and diabetes have also been connected to tooth loss.
• Damaged Self-Esteem: Tooth loss can also have a significant psychological impact, leading to low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. Gaps in your smile can make you feel insecure about your appearance and hesitant to smile around others, damaging your ability to socialize and meet new people.

Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth, Dr. Munro can restore your smile and prevent these consequences from occurring with natural-looking dental implants. Our implant solutions are highly durable and stimulate healthy jawbone growth, protecting your long-term oral health. Best of all, they look natural and can last a lifetime with proper care.