Sometimes it is necessary for young people to get dentures to replace most or all of their teeth. While many people regard denture-wearing as something that occurs as people get older, tooth loss can happen at any age.
There are no age restrictions on dentures. If you are missing your natural teeth, dentures can give you back your smile. They do more than help restore your natural appearance, though. They support facial muscles that otherwise sag without teeth in place, making you look older. Dentures also make it easier to speak and, of course, to eat.
If you are young and need dentures, you are not alone. Among the most common causes of tooth loss are poor oral hygiene habits and lack of professional dental care in childhood. These factors can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. However, there are other reasons young people lose teeth:
If necessary, children can start wearing dentures in preschool. It may seem early, but children with premature tooth loss can benefit from them. Some of the ways dentures help young people include the following.
The teeth are critical for communication. People use their teeth, lips, and tongue to control the airflow out of the mouth to form words. Childhood is a difficult time to learn how to communicate. Not having teeth can make speech much worse. When you have missing teeth, your words may sound incorrect. It can lead to misunderstandings and frustration. At a critical time when children are developing language skills, dentures can help them communicate more effectively.
Young people need a healthy diet. Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing, and dentures can make it possible to eat raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other healthy foods required for growth.
After you receive your dentures, start slowly. Denture wearers do have to acclimate to the new teeth. Chew slowly and evenly at first; you may want to cut your food into small pieces until you become more confident with your ability to chew completely. Dentures do come with mild soreness at first, but over time, the soreness disappears.
Without teeth, the lower half of the face begins to change. Jawbones start to shrink, and your face appears shorter than before. As the bone shrinks, it can also cause the bone to rotate forward. Kids between the age of 14 to 16 and again from 16 to 20 have significant mandibular growth. Teeth help stimulate the jaw to help it grow and regenerate. Dentures can help support the mouth structure as children grow.
Children and teens naturally want to fit in and look like their peers. Dentures can give them a smile to be proud of, increasing their self-confidence.
Tooth loss causes jaws to overclose and cheeks to sink in, making a young person look older. Wrinkles may begin to form on the cheeks and face, causing you to look older than you are. In addition, teeth preserve the shape around the mouth's corners. Without dentures, you may look angry or upset at all times. Likewise, the expression can lead to frown lines.
Jawbone loss causes weak muscle ligaments. The weak ligaments cause the face to sag. Dentures support facial structure and help create a regular appearance for the age of the wearer.
If you feel like you are too young for dentures, keep in mind that many other children, teenagers, and young adults wear them, too. You can have dentures that look like your natural teeth, giving you a beautiful smile. They can also enhance growth and speech development by helping you eat healthy foods, support your jaw structure, and use proper speech patterns. There is a learning curve when you get dentures, and it may take some time to get used to them. However, you will look and feel great about your oral health — and, of course, your smile.
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