The loss of a tooth can be challenging. While shocking to learn, an estimated 69 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. The loss of certain teeth, such as one located in the front of the mouth, can be even more problematic because it affects your appearance. However, the loss of a tooth located in the back of your mouth should still be a cause for concern. If you have lost a tooth in the back of your mouth, you may think replacing it is not necessary because it is not as visible, but that is not true. With this guide, you will learn a few key reasons why you should replace a missing tooth in the back of your mouth.

Other Teeth Will Shift

A complete set of teeth act as a foundation for your smile. Your teeth are aligned together, supporting one another to ensure your smile is straight, healthy, and functional. If even one tooth is lost, the other teeth will lack the support they need.

When you lose a tooth, even in the back of the mouth, and choose to not replace it with an implant, the open space left behind will cause other teeth to shift. Shifting teeth can affect the alignment of your smile, which may affect your ability to chew and speak.

Also, if you lose a tooth in the bottom row, the opposing tooth in the upper jaw will shift to fill in the space of the missing tooth. This causes the tooth in the upper jaw to protrude out, negatively affecting your bite alignment and the look of your smile.  

Increased Risk of Gum Disease

If you don't replace a missing tooth, the gum tissue and underlying roots will be more exposed to food particles and bacteria. This leads to an increased risk of sensitivity, discomfort, and possible gum disease.

You may think brushing will be sufficient for removing food residue and bacteria, but that is not actually true. Debris and bacteria will be able to seep into the gum tissue in the location of the tooth that is now missing. Over time, the debris and bacteria will spread, causing gum tissue to be swollen and red. You may also have light bleeding of the gums.

It is important to remember that gum disease spreads quickly. While it may start in the missing tooth's gum tissue, the bacteria will spread throughout your mouth, affecting all of your gums and teeth.

Speech Issues

You may be surprised to learn that a missing tooth in the back of your mouth can affect your speech. Gaps in your smile can affect the way your vocal cords, tongue, and mouth work together to speak certain words and phrases. If you have multiple gaps in your smile due to multiple missing teeth, you may develop a lisp while speaking or begin to slur your speech occasionally.

Social Anxiety

A misaligned bite; gum disease that can causes discoloration, decay, and further tooth loss; and a speech impediment can also affect your emotional wellness.

If you don't replace your missing teeth with implants, you may avoid certain social situations due to your change in appearance and speech problems. Avoiding social situations because of how you look and the way you talk can affect your quality of life in negative ways. Many people actually avoid these situations continuously over a period of many years, which can lead to a social anxiety disorder.

Dental implants can help you restore your smile's look and health while improving your ability to chew, speak, and live. This guide and your dentist can help you restore your smile. To learn more, check out websites like http://premierdentalgrp.com/.