Crooked teeth are much more than a cosmetic issue as they not only affect your appearance but also increase the risk of chronic gum diseases and heart disease because they are hard to clean and care for. Crooked teeth also make it difficult to chew your food, resulting in inadequate digestion and slow absorption of nutrients into the body. Orthodontic treatment includes a broad spectrum of techniques for straightening and realigning crooked teeth and it also helps with correcting dental issues to ensure that you end up with healthier teeth and gums and ward off tooth decay.
Here’s a list of 8 problems caused by crooked teeth:
- Gum Diseases – Crooked teeth, whether they are overcrowded or misaligned, can cause gum irritation because they let plaque and bacteria settle on your gums. You may not get to know unless you visit your dentist because gum diseases are not easy to detect in the initial stages. Straight teeth naturally lead to healthier gums and help prevent the risk of the periodontal disease.
- Impact on Speech – When your teeth are not aligned properly, you are at an increased risk of developing speech problems as crooked, overlapping and twisted teeth change the position of your tongue and may allow excess air to pass through creating a whistling sound when you speak.
- Impact on Overall Health – If you suffer from serious oral health issues such as tooth decay, gum disease or oral cancer, it will have a negative impact on your overall health because these diseases are directly linked to the alignment of your teeth. This is why it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that your teeth are properly aligned and positively impact your overall health.
- Tooth Decay – If your teeth overlap it becomes very difficult to keep them clean and it leads to cavity down the road because food gets stuck in the nooks and corners of your teeth. Over time the bacteria combine with acids and sugars in the food and cause cavity that erodes the enamel of your teeth.
- Bad Breath – Another disadvantage of having a crooked set of teeth is bad breath as it is generally caused by lingering mouth bacteria. Straightening your teeth will help you get rid of bad breath and the inflammation of gums that comes along with it.
- Difficulty in Chewing – It would be quite a task to properly chew food when you have misaligned teeth. Crooked teeth, overbites and underbites are inherited just like the colour of your eyes or the size of your hands. Difficulty in chewing will ultimately affect overall health by causing digestive problems and early loss of baby or adult teeth.
- Lowers Self-Esteem – Appearance makes the first impression and for some, it can mean everything. Crooked teeth create an unimpressive smile that can affect self esteem, eventually lower the self-confidence and keep people from smiling more often due to embarrassment.
- Increases the Risk of Tooth Injuries – Protruding teeth are at the risk of chipping or getting fractured. They also affect proper jaw development and lead to abnormal loss of teeth.
Here are 4 Ways to Straighten Crooked Teeth
- Braces – Braces help shift the teeth in their correct position by applying pressure. Braces are made of different materials such as metal, ceramic or lingual braces. The braces hold the teeth together because a tightening wire applies pressure to help straighten teeth.
- Invisalign – These are removable aligners that push the teeth tightly into their correct position. They are transparent and are made of plastic. Invisalign is a clear, comfortable solution that can be conveniently removed during eating, drinking or brushing.
- Tooth Contouring – This procedure is inexpensive and instant as it involves scraping off a portion of the tooth enamel using a laser drill. The sides of the teeth are chiselled using abrasive strips then polished and eventually replaced by dental veneers.
- Porcelain Veneers – They not only straighten the teeth but also make them appear whiter. A mold of the teeth is used to create veneers so they look natural and fit well. Porcelain veneers improve the appearance of the teeth but cannot correct the core problem. If you have small spaces between teeth or mild overcrowding, then porcelain veneers are a good option.
Gum diseases and tooth decay are direct results of crooked teeth. When crooked teeth are left uncorrected they lead to serious health issues. Straightening your teeth makes a great difference in your overall health by avoiding such complications. Make your trip to your family orthodontist and take your first step to better oral and overall health.
Author Bio:
Sharon William’s day job is to handle digital marketing for Koch Orthodontics in Loganville, GA. With a flair for creating compelling content that clears the clutter and connects with the audience in an instant, she writes about dental topics to educate and help her readers. She truly believes that a genuine smile can win a million hearts and talks to her readers about improving their smiles and overall dental health, as well as enhancing their overall lifestyle. In her free time, she likes to organize small meets in her neighbourhood where she brings people together to discuss various topics that she writes about.