Crooked teeth are actually more hazardous to your overall health than they are to just your oral health. Smiling with crooked teeth can make you feel insecure, but that’s not all. Crooked teeth can affect your health in other ways that could surprise you.
If you have crooked teeth, it is important you’re aware of adverse health problems that are caused by it. Nobody likes to have crooked teeth, particularly because of how it impacts your smiling confidence.
If you have crooked teeth and aren’t overly concerned by how your teeth look, this isn’t a bad thing, particularly because your smile isn’t impacting how you feel and look. Although, you’re potentially introducing long-term health problems from your mouth to the rest of your body that may prove expensive and time-consuming to resolve.
What Problems Come With Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth can contribute to 8 major dental problems, including:
1. Misalignment and Bite Issues
Crooked teeth can cause misalignment of the bite, leading to conditions such as overbite, underbite, or crossbite. These misalignments can result in uneven wear on teeth, increased risk of tooth decay, and jaw pain. In addition, misaligned teeth may come together in a way that prevents normal jaw alignment, making chewing painful or difficult
2. Increased Risk of Injury
Crooked teeth can be more susceptible to chips and fractures, especially if they protrude or are misaligned. This increases the likelihood of dental injuries during physical activities or accidents.
3. Speech Problems
In some cases, crooked teeth can contribute to speech difficulties, such as lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, which can affect communication.
4. Difficult To Clean
Food is more likely to become stuck within your teeth if the angle of your teeth isn’t straight. Even when brushing teeth at home, it’ll be difficult to remove. This can introduce plaque build-up, a trigger for the initial stages of tooth decay and gum disease. Crooked teeth also prevent the floss film from entering the small gaps in between teeth to remove debris. No matter how much you clean your mouth, you’re still at risk degrading teeth.
5. Creates Wear And Tear
Crowded teeth can cause your teeth to protrude, meaning your upper and lower teeth grinding together when you open and close your mouth, and particularly when you bite down on food. This can cause natural wear and tear on your teeth and alter the position of your teeth. This friction can leave your teeth with small fractures and cause them to break. This is formally known as teeth grinding, or Bruxism, which can also occur during sleep. Explore these benefits of dental mouthguard and avoid wear-and-tear caused by misaligned bites.
6. TMJ Disorder
With several crooked teeth, this can impact how you chew and is likely to introduce stiffness in your jaw. When this happens, your temporomandibular joints (TMJ disorder) are under strain causing them to become misaligned. A misaligned jaw can contribute to problems with eating, sleeping, talking and general movement.
7. Bad Breath
Crooked teeth harbour bacteria due to the difficulty of removing surface stains and food debris in between teeth. This means you’re likely to end up with bad breath. The bacteria build-up can be difficult to reduce unless your crooked teeth and straightened accordingly. You may attempt to use mouthwash to keep breath fresh, but this doesn’t halt the build up of bacteria.
8. Psychological Impacts
Some people’s confidence and self-esteem can become severely damaged by they feel about their teeth. A straight smile has proven to create a great first impression on the public. Smiling with straight and shiny teeth can also enhance the quality of life and improve mental health. Without nice teeth, not only will you miss out on this, but you’ll naturally smile less and continue to feel stressed about it. Psychologically, the negative impacts about how your teeth look will be quite high. You can turn to cosmetic treatments to reduce these impacts by resolving misalignment of your teeth.
How To Know If You Have Crooked Teeth or Misaligned Bite?
Here are some signs that your teeth may be crooked or your bite misaligned:
Visual Inspection
Look in the mirror and examine your teeth. Some signs of crooked teeth include:
- Overlapping or crowded teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Teeth that appear twisted or rotated
- Protruding upper or lower teeth
Chewing Difficulties
If you have trouble chewing or biting into foods, it could be a sign of a misaligned bite. An overbite (upper teeth protruding too far over lower teeth) or underbite (lower teeth in front of upper teeth) can make chewing difficult.
Jaw Pain or Clicking
Pain, soreness, or clicking/popping noises in your jaw, especially when opening your mouth wide, may indicate a misaligned bite or TMJ disorder.
Speech Issues
Crooked teeth or a misaligned bite can affect your speech, causing a lisp or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.
Excessive Wear on Teeth
If your teeth appear unusually worn down, it could be from grinding or clenching due to a misaligned bite.
Gum Disease
Crooked teeth make it harder to keep plaque off all surfaces, increasing your risk of gum disease.
How Are Crooked Teeth Treated?
Crooked teeth can be treated through various methods, depending on the severity of the misalignment and the specific needs of the patient. Here are some common treatment options:
- Braces: Traditional braces are a widely used method for correcting crooked teeth. They consist of metal brackets and wires that apply steady pressure to shift teeth into alignment over time. There are also ceramic braces and lingual braces, which are less visible.
- Invisalign: This modern alternative to braces involves a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners that gradually move teeth into the desired position. Invisalign are removable, making them convenient for eating and cleaning.
- Veneers: Thin, custom-made shells made of porcelain or composite resin can be bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers are ideal for addressing minor misalignments, gaps, or cosmetic imperfections.
- Dental Bonding: This procedure involves applying a tooth-colored resin to correct minor misalignments or gaps. Dental bonding is a quick and minimally invasive option that can enhance the appearance of teeth.
- Crowns: In cases where teeth are significantly damaged or misaligned, dental crowns may be recommended. Crowns cover the entire tooth, providing both aesthetic and functional benefits.
- Recontouring: This technique reshapes teeth by removing small amounts of enamel to improve their length or shape. It is best suited for minor issues.
Each treatment option has its advantages and considerations, so consulting with a dental professional is essential to determine the best approach for achieving a straighter, healthier smile.
Now that you’re aware of the health problems caused by crooked teeth, you’re more likely to consider cosmetic dentistry treatment to get your teeth straightened at the dentist, such as Invisalign or traditional braces. If you’re not overly concerned by the look and feel of your teeth and are able to get by without feeling low in self-confidence, you’re ignoring the health hazards. Save your smile by consulting a dentist to reduce the chances of future health problems.
At Vineyard Dental, our Sunbury Dentists are motivated to transform your confidence in your smile and deliver the shade in your teeth that you’re looking for. Contact us for an appointment today.
