Orthodontic work can be expensive so you might be tempted to brush off your one or two crooked teeth or small alignment issue as merely cosmetic. That one crooked tooth gives you character, right?
Crooked teeth, even the smallest of imperfections, can lead to dental problems. Here are 7 reasons even small alignment issues can impact your dental health:
Harder to Clean Teeth
The biggest issue with crooked teeth is that because the teeth are all jammed into one another, it is harder to properly clean your teeth. It can be very difficult to get the floss in between crooked teeth. This leads to plaque buildup and food particles getting stuck in between your teeth. When bacteria is allowed to grow in your mouth, it can lead to a lot of dental issues.
Greater Risk for Gum Disease
You may not realize it, but your crooked teeth actually don’t sit right in your mouth and your gums don’t fit as tightly around them as they should. This leads to the development of small pockets between your teeth and gums which attracts bacteria which turns into plaque and can lead to periodontal disease, which is a serious disease where you can lose teeth. Crooked teeth are also more likely to get cavities as well.
Likely Culprit of Bad Breath
Bad breath can be embarrassing. It is hard to get close to people when you are constantly worried that you are grossing them out with your breath. While you probably just chalk bad breath up to something you ate, your crooked teeth might be causing that bad breath. That odor is coming from the lingering bacteria stuck between your crooked teeth. If you are always very diligent about proper flossing and brushing and still suffer from constant bad breath, it is time to see an orthodontist.
More Wear and Tear on the Teeth
When your teeth are crooked, the surfaces are uneven, with some teeth protruding out. This often leads to the teeth rubbing against each other. This can speed up the wear and tear on your teeth and the thinning of enamel causing them to age a lot quicker than normal.
More at Risk for Tooth Injury
If you play sports and get hit in the face during a game or you just trip and fall while you are out and about, protruding teeth are more at risk of being injured. They can get easily chipped or even fractured. If this were to happen, it is best to see the dentist right away to have any cracks or fissures sealed up so that the rest of the tooth doesn’t start to decay.
Increases Your Risk for Disease
It is not just your dental health that crooked teeth can adversely affect. It can affect your overall health as well. Gum disease has been shown in countless studies to have direct correlation to serious disease like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer ’s disease. The inflammation in the gums can lead to higher levels of inflammation throughout the body, making you highly susceptible to many diseases.
Not Too Late To Do Something about It
Regardless of how long you have had crooked teeth, it is never too late to do something about it. Make today that you schedule a free consultation with a trusted orthodontist. They will evaluate your particular situation and come up with a treatment plan that works best for you.
Before choosing a treatment, make sure you understand what each treatment option entails. The traditional approach is metal braces which are a combination of metal and wires that are adhered to your teeth and slowly move your teeth into better alignment. Another option is Invisalign aligners which are clear and removable braces.
Here is what you should know about current treatment options:
Metal braces
- These are permanently adhered to your teeth and can only be taken off by the orthodontist at the end of treatment
- The orthodontist tightens the wires during treatment to help shift the teeth
- There are certain food and drink restrictions with this treatment
- May have to wear them for three or more years depending on how your treatment goes
- Most bite and alignment issues can be treated by metal braces
Invisalign
- They are clear plastic aligners that can be easily removed
- Can be removed to eat and to brush and floss your teeth
- Treatment includes a new set of aligners every two weeks as your teeth shift into proper alignment
- Invisalign can also handle both simple and complicated alignment issues
Lingual Braces
- Lingual braces are braces that are attached to the back of the teeth instead of the front making them practically invisible to the people around you. They are made up of brackets and wires like traditional braces, but because of their positioning they are more discrete.
- Unfortunately there are some bite conditions that cannot be treated with lingual braces. Patients with a deep overbite are not good candidates for lingual braces because the overbite might put too much pressure on the brackets leading to the brackets falling off. During an evaluation, your orthodontist will be able to determine if lingual braces will work for you.
- Another concern is that not all orthodontists offer this type of treatment. It requires special training because the wiring work is more intricate than it is with traditional treatment. Another concern is that they can be more difficult to clean properly because it is on the back of your teeth which is harder to reach.
Interested in learning more about your options? Picking the right orthodontist is also key to ensuring your teeth are healthy. You want to choose someone who has the best skills and education to give you the best treatment results and you want a staff that is caring and compassionate about your worries and needs. Make sure you do some research and schedule a few consultations to find the right orthodontist.
Contact Orthodontics Limited today to schedule a free consultation to see if they are a good fit for you.
