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Unveiling the Causes, Consequences, and Solutions of Tooth Loss

Losing a tooth sounds like an absolute nightmare, from a cosmetic point of view to functional loss. Although teeth loss is decreasing nowadays, many factors can still cause tooth loss. Being aware of the causes and taking the appropriate precautions can dramatically decrease the risk of tooth loss.

Knowing the three layers of the tooth is a must. Your tooth is made up of three layers: the outer layer is called the enamel, the middle layer is the dentin, which forms the tough tooth casement, and the inner layer is the pulp. The tooth pulp is a connective tissue filled with blood vessels and nerve endings that carry the sensations and pain.

Tooth loss starts through the loss of the supporting structures that fix the tooth in place. This makes the teeth looser and more prone to being removed.

There are two types of tooth loss: enamel and bone tooth loss. Enamel tooth loss means that the other surface of the tooth becomes eroded, exposing the middle dentin layer. Bone tooth loss means that the entirety of the tooth is lost from its place.

Problems associated with tooth loss

  • Cosmetic appearance is a problem of the utmost importance and the cause for seeking help. Having a missing tooth can be associated with negative connotations. This, in turn, will lower the person’s self-esteem and cause them to lose self-confidence. Social anxiety and withdrawal are serious yet common results, where one will be too shy and self-conscious and would rather withdraw.
  • Difficulty in chewing: your teeth perform the vital function of chewing. It is important for crushing and grinding food into smaller particles so it can be easily swallowed. Loss of teeth will cause difficulty in breaking down food particles and their swallowing. This can cause indigestion.
  • Dietary deficiency: as missing teeth will limit the types of food one can intake, the person with the missing teeth might find it difficult to eat certain types of food that involve too much chewing. Consequently, this leads to the loss of important vitamins and nutrients that are essential for the body.
  • Difficulty in speaking: regardless of the language you speak, the teeth play an important role in phonetics and how you pronounce certain letters. A missing tooth can cause words to be pronounced incorrectly. This can cause anxiety for the person and thus limit the person’s self-expression.

What Causes Tooth Loss?

Tooth loss is a complex topic, with many factors coming into play. Age, sex, and social factors play an important role. A well-educated person takes better care of their teeth, whereas for someone with a lower socioeconomic status, teeth hygiene and loss might be a lower priority. However, many important factors.

  1. Genetics: a lost tooth can simply be due to your genes. Someone can be born with a missing tooth, and this usually occurs with congenital anomalies such as Down Syndrome. On the other hand, the problem might be with the development of permanent teeth due to abnormalities in the shape of the jaw.
  2. Tooth decay: a rather bothersome dental condition. This occurs due to a lack of oral hygiene, causing bacteria to build up around the teeth. They start producing acid, which erodes down the enamel and extends into the tooth layers. This can start with white or brown spots on the tooth, which can extend to become cavities, associated with pain and hypersensitivity to hot and cold.
  3. Periodontal disease: These are diseases that affect the gums. The gum becomes infected and swollen, weakening it. As the gum is important to support the tooth, this causes this supported structure to become weakened, and the tooth becomes looser and falls off.
  4. Trauma: this is especially common with little kids. Milk teeth have weaker attachments; in addition, as kids are more inquisitive to surrounding environments, they are more prone to falls and injuries that yank off the teeth. Adults are not safe, as some forms of sports can cause the teeth to be forcibly removed.

What Causes tooth enamel loss?

The enamel is the hard-out layer of the teeth, made up of calcium and phosphorus. Enamel erosion occurs mainly due to poor dietary choices. Common culprits are sugars, starch, fruity drinks and sodas. The sugar in the aforementioned foods is broken down by the bacteria in the mouth into acid. This acid starts eating away the tooth enamel, causing loss. As for the soda, the carbonic acid producing the bubbles reacts with the calcium in the enamel, stripping it away.

What causes tooth bone loss?

A complete removal of the tooth can be due to tooth extraction. It can also be due to periodontal disease, as weakened gums mean loss of the supporting cement for the tooth.

Can diabetes cause tooth loss?

Diabetes is a chronic disease where your blood sugar is constantly high due to problems with insulin hormone. The American Dental Association states that one in every five cases of tooth loss is due to diabetes. This can be due to multiple reasons. Diabetes is known to weaken your body’s immune system, which is essential in fighting off bacteria. Weakened immunity means that the bacteria can accumulate within your gums, forming plaques. In addition, high blood sugar means that a sugary environment in the gum encourages bacteria growth and infection.

Can receding gums cause tooth loss?

Receding gums is a condition where the gums start pulling back, exposing the roots. This can be caused by aggressively brushing your teeth for a long period of time, plaque and smoking. The receding of gum will cause the teeth to become looser,  making them more prone to falling.

Why DentSpa?

Choosing where to get treatment for a lost tooth is crucial, and DentSpa stands out as a premier option for several compelling reasons:

  • Top Notch Staff: something as important as replacing a missing tooth requires a high degree of skill and accuracy. Here at DentSpa, we pride ourselves on boosting highly trained, skilled, and well-respected professionals. This ensures the optimum quality of care is provided for you.
  • Excellent material: as we believe that only the best should be offered to our clientele, we invest in only the highest quality dental material. Not only does this provide a pleasant experience, but also ensures good longevity of the offered care.
  • State-of-the-art technology: only the newest and most technologically advanced instruments and devices are provided in our practice. This is to facilitate the provided procedure, eventually creating a pleasant experience for you.

A missing tooth can be bothersome, whether for cosmetic or functional reasons. Whether opting for an implant, bridge or denture, DentSpa can provide the best service. Book your appointment now!

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The material contained on this website is offered as information only and not as professional advice. Users should consult their own dental professionals for such advice.