Losing a tooth is not something that you would look out for
due to clear reasons. There are many causes for losing a tooth (or teeth).
In many cases, tooth loss happens due to progression of bacterial problems with
the teeth, leading to a point where the teeth become loose and get out of the
slot. In many situations, the same bacterial infections reach the point where
it becomes crucial for the tooth to be extracted.
The tooth extraction may provide you some relief from the
pain and infection but this relief is not long lasting. There are a set of
problems that tend to occur due to that empty slot; such as weakening of other
teeth and eventually the loss of many of them.
Reasons for the tooth loss
It would be worth mentioning the reasons for the loss of
teeth.
- The first to mention is the tooth decay. Tooth decay happens due to dissolving of tooth enamel and infection reaching the internal layers, i.e. dentin and pulp. If the pulp is not yet infected, the tooth can be saved with the help of crowning or filling. If the pulp is infected, root canal remains to be the only option for the salvage. The severely decayed tooth needs to be extracted.
- Another reason, and the big one, for the tooth loss is gun disease. During the gum disease, the gums become too weak to support the teeth. And since this disease involves a lot of bacterial infection, the bone of the tooth is also lost. Things eventually lead to the tooth loss.
- One of the reasons to lose a tooth is to get a hard hit on it. However, if you have got a mild hit that has injured your tooth by cracking it, it can still lead to the loss of that injured tooth. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can also make you lose your teeth.
- Smoking is another reason you can lose your teeth. The effect of smoking is quite similar as that of gum disease because smoking can affect the blood circulation in the gums. In the end, the gums become vulnerable due to less immunity they have against attacking bacteria.
- If you grind your teeth consistently, you can end up getting the chewing sides of your teeth worn down. The ultimate impact of bruxism is that the inner layers of the teeth start getting exposed. Hence, the bacterial infections find no resistance in infecting the inner structure of the teeth.
The consequences of missing teeth
It’s not over when you lose a tooth. The loss of tooth
causes the creation of a gap which the other teeth try to fill gradually. Their
motion causes loosening of many teeth in your jaws. Eventually, most of your
teeth become exposed against the risk of falling out.
Apart from that, an empty gap is not something which is going to look great. You will lose your confidence and you will not be able to interact with the ones you know.
Good news is that there are options that you can consider
for the replacement of your missing teeth. The Top one is the dental implant
which consists of a metal root and a prosthetic crown which is as hard as a
natural tooth. The strength of metal root allows you to chew the hard foods.
Other options include dentures and dental bridges. You can
have a discussion with your dentist to know what option suits you.
