Anyone that is missing teeth can tell you how much of a pain it can be. It can make you have to eat differently, speak differently, and at times, it can even cause a person embarrassment, making them hide their smile altogether. Numerous different activities or ailments can cause a person to lose one or many of their teeth. Here are a few of the most common ways that missing teeth can come about.

Common Causes of Missing Teeth

When we are younger, teeth fall out. This loss of baby teeth is totally normal. The baby tooth falls out, and a larger, stronger, adult tooth takes its place. However, that is not always how the story goes. Sometimes, no tooth grows in behind a baby tooth, leaving the person with an unsightly gap where that tooth should be. Other times, the person has some type of an accident that can cause a tooth, or several teeth, to fall out. This can happen at any age, from simple daily activities such as falling, bumping into something, or even some work-related hazards.

Another cause of missing teeth is problems within your mouth. Gum disease or other types of ailments within the teeth or gums can cause a tooth to go missing. This can happen by the tooth falling out, or it can come about after having to have a tooth extracted. Gum disease can cause your gums to loosen up, letting your teeth become wobbly, and at times, this can cause teeth to literally fall out on their own.

The best way to avoid missing teeth is to make sure that you are properly taking care of your teeth each and every day. You need to brush at least two times each day, and you should floss at least once. Plus, part of that dental hygiene routine needs to include regular visits to your dentist.

If you are living with missing teeth and want to do something about it, give Dr. Levy a call today.