Although everyone desires to have a beautiful smile and to retain their teeth their whole life, some situations can cause one to lose one or several teeth. For instance, you can lose teeth due to a dental infection, poor oral hygiene, or an injury. When this happens, it will be best to replace them. If you fail to do this, you will be vulnerable to dental issues like tooth decay and bone loss. This is why it's always recommended that you replace lost teeth. Here are the benefits you'll get after replacing your lost or missing tooth.

You'll Chew Properly

Your teeth help you break down food by allowing you to chew properly. For this reason, if you lose a tooth, your normal chewing will be significantly impacted. For instance, if you lose the molars, which grind food into smaller pieces that are easy to swallow and digest, you'll force the front teeth to work harder to break down the food. Moreover, since your front teeth aren't meant for this function, they may deteriorate faster. So, consider replacing the missing teeth to restore your proper chewing function.

You'll Retain Your Facial Structure

Most people are unaware that the teeth and jawbone work together to remain stable and strong. For instance, the jawbone gets constant stimulation from the teeth, which allows it to retain its stability. Therefore, when you lose a tooth, that section of the jawbone won't get the much-needed stimulation and will begin to shrink. The gums will also recede because of the missing teeth. You should know that receding gums can also weaken adjacent teeth. In the end, your facial structure will start to change, and you may look older than you are, especially since your cheeks may sag. Replacing the missing tooth will allow the jawbone to remain strong and prevent gum recession, allowing you to maintain your facial structure.

You'll Ensure Other Teeth Don't Shift

Each time you lose a tooth, a gap remains. The nearby teeth will naturally shift to fill that gap, creating teeth misalignment. Other issues arising from the shift include jawbone strain, chewing issues, and crooked teeth. Crooked teeth also cause other dental issues that can make it difficult to maintain oral hygiene. For instance, they can create areas where the floss or toothbrush can't reach, increasing the possibility of infections, cavities, and gum disease. Replacing your missing teeth will ensure the other teeth don't shift.

If you have lost a tooth, be sure to follow the dentist's recommendations for replacement. This way, you'll retain your facial structure, ensure that your teeth don't shift, and be able to chew food properly.

To learn more, contact a dentist's office in your area such as Total Dentistry.