Whether lost in an accident or because of an underlying dental condition, missing teeth can affect you in many ways. Not only will one or more missing teeth reduce your ability to smile and chew properly, but this change in your smile can also affect the health of your remaining teeth. Fortunately, restoring your smile is possible with dental implants. This guide will help you understand how dental implants can improve your health and wellness.
Prevent Bone Loss
One of the most surprising ways implants can help your health is by preventing bone loss. After losing a tooth, the gums and underlying jaw bone will begin to shift and shrink. Surprisingly, a good amount of bone will actually be absorbed by the body. Placing an implant will restore your smile, but it will also alleviate the risk of losing gum tissue and bone density.
Prevents Further Tooth Loss
Of course, as the gum tissue and jaw bone shrink, any remaining teeth will also shift and possibly loosen. Therefore, without restoring the missing teeth with implants, you are more likely to lose additional teeth.
It is also important to remember that surrounding teeth act as support for your teeth. If you have missing teeth, the adjacent teeth will not have the support they need, which can lead to decay and the loss of more teeth.
Prevents Malnutrition
Ensuring your body gets sufficient vitamins and minerals is key if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. While supplements are possible, eating a healthy variety of proteins, vegetables, fruits, and grains is a better option.
Unfortunately, if you do not have a full set of healthy and strong teeth, chewing certain foods, such as steak, chicken, apples, and pears can be difficult, so you may struggle to get in your recommended number of vitamins and minerals each day. Since they are strong and durable, replacing your missing teeth will implants will help you eat and chew all food properly, reducing the risk of malnutrition.
Prevents Self-Confidence Issues
Your smile is a main part of your appearance. If you are missing teeth, you may smile less or feel less attractive. This can lead to self-confidence and self-esteem issues that affect your daily life. Restoring your smile with implants will not only improve your oral health and ability to eat, but it will also give your self-esteem the boost you need.
If you are missing one or more teeth, talk to dentists like those at Rupp and Grabowski Family Dentistry to determine if implants are the right option for you.
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