Missing teeth don't just prevent you from smiling with confidence. They also force you to adjust your diet, especially when you are missing more than one tooth. You can cope with the loss of one tooth because your other teeth assist with the chewing process. However, what happens when you lose more than one tooth?
If you are missing more than one tooth, you have probably had to adjust your diet as a result. Unfortunately, because you can't eat the foods that your body needs, your health could begin to suffer as a result. Luckily, dental implants can help. Here are three reasons why you should get dental implants if you are missing several teeth.
Having Missing Teeth Contributes to Weight Gain
Have you ever noticed that many of the healthiest foods are quite hard in texture? For example, nuts, vegetables and red meat all require considerable chewing before you can swallow them. When you have teeth in abundance, that's not a problem.
When are you missing teeth, however, you are prevented from eating healthy foods like nuts or vegetables comfortably. Chewing these foods while you are missing teeth can become very painful, not to mention damaging to your gums.
Unfortunately, you may then reach for the softer foods, such as bread, cakes and other processed foods. Processed foods tend to contain more sugar, fat and salt than healthier alternatives like vegetables. As a result, you could gain weight over time unless you replace your missing teeth.
Having Missing Teeth Can Cause Weight Loss
If eating hurts your gums, your appetite is likely to diminish as time goes on. A study found that as well as causing obesity, poor oral health could also cause weight loss. Missing teeth don't just deprive you of your favourite foods then—they can also prevent you from taking in the calories you need to maintain your weight.
Having Missing Teeth Weakens Your Immune System
One major side effect of the aforementioned problems is the negative effect on your immune system. To keep you healthy and free of infection, your immune system needs vitamins and nutrients. Nutrients that help your immune system, such as zinc, are known as immune nutriments.
If having missing teeth is preventing you from eating healthy foods that strengthen your immune system, you may find yourself getting sick more than you used to.
Dental Implants Are the Answer
Just like your natural teeth, dental implants can crush solid foods like nuts and vegetables with ease. They can also enable you to enjoy your favourite foods again, such as steak and chips, for example.
If you are missing several teeth, you should consider replacing them with dental implants. That way, your health won't suffer because you can no longer eat the foods that benefit you the most.
Share24 June 2019
As a retired dentist, I work with charities which visit developing countries and educate children about dental care. It gives me great satisfaction to revisit these communities and see how proud the children are of their efforts. I am acutely aware that good dental hygiene can help prevent a range of serious conditions when these children become older. I started this blog because it greatly distresses me that many people in Australia do not seem to care for their teeth as much as children in these poor communities. This is happening despite ready access to items like toothbrushes and toothpaste which are luxuries in the places I visit. It is my hope that this blog encourages you not to take dental health for granted. My greatest wish is that you can be as inspired as the children I see in my charity work. Please read on and enjoy.
