Some statistics cause you to panic. Others – especially those one-in-a-million types – not so much.

Here’s an example: according to The American College of Prosthodontists, an estimated 178 million people are missing at least one tooth. Compare that data to the over 35 million that live their lives with…no teeth!

If you’re missing a tooth you might be thinking – “That’s not so bad. It’s easy to blend-in with 178 million others and go unnoticed.”

There’s more to missing teeth than meets the eye

You might be one of those millions who’ve learned to do something common. You’ve learned to compensate.

And the place you’ve become accomplished at it is eating. Perhaps you discovered how to chew and relatively enjoy your food with a missing tooth or two.

It’s proven to be easier if it’s one of your back teeth. After all, out-of-sight-out-of-mind, right?

There’s a problem with compensating. Your gums take an initial hit but they toughen over time (not necessarily a good thing).

Your lack of problems while eating can disguise deeper problems. But, if you’re missing a front tooth, chewing is more difficult – especially if you enjoy raw fruits and vegetables, a thick slice of meaty pizza, or a sandwich.

Risky behavior

It’s not a matter of how many of your teeth are missing before it impacts your diet. The bigger issue is the risk that comes with your missing teeth.

Tooth loss leads to bone loss. And bone loss can begin to put your other teeth at risk.

Your teeth depend on each other. They’re an interdependent support system throughout your entire mouth.

The out of sight damage from one missing tooth can lead to more serious (and painful) dental issues. Gum disease, inflamed, sore, or bleeding gums can produce infection and eventual tooth extraction.

The better – no risk – approach

You don’t have to get-by on one missing tooth. In fact, there’s a healthier, less risky way to keep your remaining teeth and enjoy your food.

Replace your missing tooth with a dental implant. This treatment enables you to live a healthier lifestyle and preserve your teeth.

Your dental implant procedure is a long term investment. Implants put an end to eating difficulty, bone loss, gum issues, mouth pain, and tooth replacement options that are more costly over time.

What statistics prove is clear. Millions of people live with the hassle, pain, and health risks of missing teeth.

Choose to reduce the list by one. You have options for treating tooth loss and improving the quality of your life – starting with your meals.

Question: How have you adjusted your lifestyle as result of a missing tooth? Comment.