Misaligned Teeth: Are crooked teeth a health issue?

If you think misaligned teeth are purely a cosmetic problem, think again. Having straight teeth isn’t just about showing off your beautiful smile. There are real health benefits, too.

The general health of the body is determined by how food is chewed and digested by the body. Your bite should be properly aligned to chew the food effectively.

 

A misaligned bite can cause teeth to wear out prematurely and possibly cause disorders with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The misalignment of teeth can also cause what is known as a ‘bad bite’, which can cause you to chip a tooth. If not treated, chips can sometimes lead the tooth to shatter.

 

Making sure your teeth are properly aligned helps keep them healthy and helps prevent future problems. For one, straight teeth are easier to clean and therefore less prone to decay and gum disease. That means you’re less likely to need expensive procedures like root canals, implants, or gum surgery in the future.

 

Aside from the health advantages, having perfectly aligned teeth is quite important for cosmetic appearances. Crooked teeth not only look bad, but they can also cause problems with other tissues.

 

But what causes teeth to be crooked in the first place? And what other issues can be fixed just by straightening your teeth?

 

Misaligned teeth are caused by a variety of factors. If one of your jaws is smaller than the other, it results in an underbite or overbite. Crooked teeth can often happen when your mouth is too small for your teeth. These are genetic traits that you inherit. 

 

Other causes for misaligned teeth include:

• Losing your teeth early

• Gum disease

• Injury 

• Tumours 

 

In children, misalignment of the teeth can also result from thumb-sucking and from using a bottle or pacifier for too long. 

 

But these problems can all be corrected. Nick Nabavi , DDS, and his team at Paddington Dentistry in Sydney, Paddington , provide expert care that restores your smile and protects the longevity of your teeth.

 

Everyone loves a beautiful smile, but having straight teeth is also important for your health. If your teeth are out of alignment, brushing and flossing them properly is difficult. That means you’re more likely to have decay and gum disease. Furthermore, with proper alignment, teeth will function better, wear evenly with less chances of fractures, and improving their longevity with less issues over time. 

 

Along with the more obvious problems, like cavities, misaligned teeth sometimes cause headaches, earaches, and difficulties with speech. 

 

Your teeth function best when they meet properly; chewing and biting are harder to do when your teeth aren’t aligned. With crooked teeth, your jaws are strained, so problems like TMJ disorders can develop or become worse.

 

In the long-term, misaligned teeth are more likely to break. The higher risk of decay means you’re also more likely to lose teeth or need extensive treatments, like root canals, in the future. 

 

Aligning your teeth can seem pretty expensive. Maybe you’ve chosen not to correct the alignment of your teeth because you thought it only impacted your appearance, and that wasn’t enough to justify the cost. However, aligning your teeth is a smart investment for your health.

 

Investing in your smile now means you’re less likely to suffer from many possible dental problems in the future and less likely to need expensive procedures to fix them. 

 

The cost of straightening your teeth is small compared to the cost of correcting and repairing problems caused by misalignment in the future. 

 

Braces have been around for a long time. Until the 1970s, braces went all the way around the tooth. Now, thankfully, newer materials and technology give us braces and aligners that are more comfortable and require fewer adjustments than ever before.

 

If you don’t want to wear traditional braces, Dr. Nick offers Invisalign. Invisalign gently moves your teeth with a series of transparent, BPA-free, medical-grade aligners. 

 

Since Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, you can correct your smile without anyone knowing. You also remove the aligners to eat and brush your teeth, which you cannot do with traditional braces. 

 

The most obvious advantage of Invisalign is that the retainers are nearly unnoticeable. Adult patients appreciate the fact that their co-workers and clients are unaware that they are getting orthodontic treatment. Teens who are self-conscious do, too.

With Invisalign, you won’t have to deal with folks remarking on your new braces. You won’t be concerned about your grin in images since all you’ll notice is the progression of your ever-improving smile.

Patients frequently inquire, “Do you have to wear Invisalign all the time?”. Invisalign should be worn for 20 – 22 hours a day for best results, which means you can remove your aligners when eating. This implies that you don’t have to modify what or how you consume. Some foods are difficult or painful to consume when wearing braces. 

In addition to eating and drinking, you will remove your Invisalign retainers to wash your teeth. With nothing to worry about on your teeth, you may resume cleaning and flossing as usual.

Much of the orthodontist’s work with Invisalign occurs before you wear your aligners. All personalised retainers are made in a laboratory using a 3D image of your teeth. According to your orthodontist’s instructions, you should change several sets of retainers. Because there is no need to contact the orthodontist for adjustments, visits to check on progress are kept to a minimum. Fewer orthodontist appointments equal less time away from work.

“Are braces or Invisalign more painful?” you may question. Invisalign, like traditional braces, may be unpleasant and painful when moving teeth. Invisalign, on the other hand, causes fewer mouth and gum difficulties. Invisalign retainers are constructed of a unique plastic and custom-fit to each patient’s mouth, so there are usually no incisions on the inner cheeks or salt washes to deal with, unlike braces.

 

Are you ready to correct your smile and protect the health of your teeth in the future? Here at Paddington Dentistry, we treat patients of all ages. Whether you’re thinking of orthodontic treatment for you or for your child, we have a solution that fits. Call us today to book a consultation or appointment.