Missing teeth can be a challenging dental issue to face. It’s estimated that approximately 120 million people in the US are missing at least one tooth, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. Furthermore, about 36 million people don’t have any teeth at all. Not only is it challenging on a personal and emotional level, but it can also present health challenges as well. Diet and nutrition are one area of your health that could be drastically affected by this problem. Keep reading to learn how diet and nutrition are impacted by tooth loss.
Diet Changes
When an individual loses a tooth or several teeth, they will immediately notice that they must change the way they eat. The food choices you make are actually based on your ability to chew those foods properly. If you have all of your teeth and those teeth are healthy, then you likely never consider this on a day-to-day basis. However, if you start having trouble with your teeth, you’ll quickly realize how differently you choose your food.
With significant tooth loss, you may start to feel very limited in the types of foods you can now eat. Foods that require biting, tearing, and significant chewing, will quickly leave your plate. This will include foods that you love but it will also include foods that you need in your diet. Most notably, protein sources. Many people who have issues with chewing will skip protein because protein requires a lot of biting and chewing. This can have a big impact on your nutrition.
Nutritional Needs
Once you start cutting certain foods out of your diet due to tooth loss, your nutrition will suffer. You need certain types of foods in your diet every day in order to get the vitamins and nutrients you need to be healthy. If you cut out too many different types of foods, you may start to notice a negative effect on your health such as weight gain, hormonal changes, and more.
This problem can be mitigated by the use of well-fitting dentures or permanent dental implants. Both of these options give you a set of healthy teeth that will enable you to start eating normally again. If you have missing teeth, you can talk with one of our dentists about the options for dentures or implants. If you’re looking for help with missing teeth, please contact us today. Our team has the knowledge and technology to help you with your dental issues.