Facial cosmetic surgery is more common than ever. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a 10% increase in cosmetic surgery. Since 2019, the demand for Botox has risen by 54% and 75% for fillers. However, almost no one ever thinks that their teeth might be to blame when it comes to sunken cheeks, premature wrinkles, or weak jawlines. So, they may be seeking the wrong treatment.
Oral health is linked to overall health. Heart diseases, stroke, pneumonia, and premature births have been linked to oral health problems. However, what many people don’t realise is that having bad teeth also changes the way you look. It happens once you lose them. The process is gradual, so it can escape your notice entirely, and you may end up seeking the wrong treatment to fix the problem.
Expert Opinion:
Longevita dentist Dr. Izbel Aksit warns: “If your teeth are neglected, and as a result, you lose one or more tooth, this can affect the shape of your face. Your cheeks can sink inwards, and your face can get wrinkles. Tooth loss also weakens your jawbone in the long term.”
Additionally, she says: “Missing teeth weakens the muscles on the cheekbones and affects the overall fullness of your face. If unilateral chewing is performed due to unilateral tooth loss, facial asymmetry occurs, since the muscles will work unilaterally.”
Since it’s the front teeth that carry the most aesthetic weight, not many are bothered by the absence of the teeth in the back of the mouth. But whether at the front or back, missing teeth can cause jawbone deterioration. It will cause the adjacent teeth to shift into the missing space, and as the loss of bone continues, the bone will not be able to support the teeth. So, it will cause the loss of more teeth.
The structure of your face will also not be adequately supported anymore, which will result in collapse. Most visibly, you’ll have sunken cheeks, wrinkles around the mouth, and a shortening of the gap between your nose and chin. The shape of your jawline will also change, and eventually, it will affect the height and projection of your entire face. This will make you look considerably older than you actually are. And missing teeth will also affect your nutritional intake as you switch to a soft food diet. That is why it’s important to get the missing tooth replaced as soon as possible.
Conclusion
While many people turn to fillers and Botox to treat wrinkles and loss of volume, they’re not always the right answer. The underlying issue causing facial asymmetry and premature wrinkles may be missing teeth, after all. And improving your teeth structure could fix your facial imperfections.