A recent International and American Associations for Dental Research report on costs associated with dental diseases indicated the total amounted to $442 billion per year. Improving oral health around the world could help reduce these costs.

However, poor dental care that results in gum disease and tooth loss can cost people much more than just money. Here are three ways your Century City cosmetic dentist warns tooth loss can cost the average adult.

Tooth Loss and Unemployment Go Hand in Hand

Where there is unemployment, there is higher tooth loss, according to a recent post in USAToday. The conjecture is that missing teeth negatively affects a person’s chances of landing a job. Specifically, West Virginia had the “highest jobless rate in June” while at the same time it had “the most working-age adults” missing six or more teeth.

While the most obvious effect of tooth loss is aesthetic, in addition to being unsightly, tooth loss can affect speech. This one-two combination may increase problems when it comes to finding and keeping a job.

Tooth Loss Ruins a Smile and Confidence

The absence of one or more teeth can ruin your smile as well as destroy your confidence. Specifically, a national study found that depression and anxiety are associated with tooth loss. However, tooth loss can affect those around you as well.

Several studies cited at WebMD suggest smiling may lead people to assume you’re successful. In fact, statistics show that most people notice the smile first when meeting someone for the first time. Teeth and smiles are the “second most important attraction feature.”

Unfortunately, many people with visible tooth loss resist smiling due to lack of confidence. Your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist can help make your damaged smile look new again.

Tooth Loss Can Result in Other Health Problems

The biggest reason for tooth loss is gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), according to the Academy of Osseointegration. You increase your chances of gum disease if you smoke or don’t eat a well-balanced diet. Chronic ailments such as diabetes or hypertension may also lead to gum disease. However, research now shows that the reverse may be true as well. Gum disease may lead to other health conditions.

For instance, research suggests the “relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease goes both ways.” Additionally, while the jury is still out on the cause-and-effect relationship between periodontal disease and heart disease, there are those who believe there is a connection. While bacteria have always been a factor in gum disease, it’s only been recently that health care professionals have begun to link the inflammation of gum disease to other health concerns.

If you suffer from gingivitis, periodontitis, or tooth loss, speak with your Century City cosmetic dentist to determine how he can help you save your smile.