How Tooth Loss Could Lead to Anxiety and Depression

If you have lost a tooth, it is very important that you have it replaced as soon as possible. Tooth loss affects not just your oral health, but it affects your body, as well. Once you have lost the tooth, the jawbone underneath the loss starts to absorb into the body. Over time, the absorption of the jawbone will actually cause your face to sink in. This process in itself is enough to fill a person with anxiety and depression.

Even in the days immediately following the loss of a tooth, it is not long before anxiety and depression can occur. While it is more subtle at first, the psychological change is still very real. In recent studies, the loss of a tooth has been linked to a feeling of lower self-worth. This can take the form of being afraid to smile at a joke that a friend told, or it may become something far more nefarious. Somebody who has taken a hit to their self-esteem may begin to feel depressed as a result. Depression tends to affect the willingness of somebody to take proper care of their health. Many depressed people feel that there is no point. As a result, small health issues that can be taken care of if caught early enough are allowed to progress to more serious conditions. Soon after, even small activities can fill someone who is depressed with anxiety. It is an unfortunately vicious cycle.

Most dentists agree that the best option for replacing a tooth is through a dental implant. It mimics the function of your natural tooth, as well as it stimulates your jawbone to prevent bone loss. If you have recently lost a tooth, contact our expert in single dental implants in Los Angeles to set up a consultation.

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