11

Aug

Your oral health impacts your general health from childhood to adulthood. When you or your child has trouble with alignment, crowding, or spacing, it could indicate a bigger dental concern. Problems such as crooked teeth, missing teeth, or bad bites can be more serious than they seem.

Not treating these problems early enough can cause gum disease and jaw pain. Fortunately, there are several effective modern methods, like braces. Having braces helps fix crooked teeth and bites, making your smile and bite better.

Below, you will learn some signs that show you or your child may need braces. If unsure, consider talking to a dentist or orthodontist for a personal consultation.

Reasons You, As an Adult, Could Need Braces

Common conditions that adults require to have braces fixed include:

Crooked or Crowded Teeth

If your teeth are crooked or crowded, it is a clear sign that you could use braces. When this happens, it is called a malocclusion in dentistry and can be seen as overlapping teeth, teeth that stick out at unusual angles, or a mouth with more teeth than usual. It is also possible to see that your teeth appear crooked or some grow sideways instead of straight.

How can you know if your mouth is too crowded?

If you find it hard to floss between some teeth, your teeth are crowded. When teeth are crowded, it is harder to clean them, whether you do it yourself or at the dentist. As a result, food particles get trapped more easily, plaque accumulates, and your chances of getting gum disease go up.

You may not notice crowded teeth as a problem, but they can slowly cause more serious issues. If plaque accumulates in tight areas, it can cause gum inflammation (gingivitis). If not treated, it may become periodontitis, a dangerous gum infection that can harm the bone under your teeth.

Crowded teeth can develop without any intervention. Your jawbone could be smaller, so your teeth don’t have enough room to fit properly. In some cases, wisdom teeth push against your other teeth, which can cause your front teeth to move.

Whatever the reason, braces can slowly move your teeth into a better position, making them easier to clean, protecting your gums, and improving your smile and bite.

Overly Spaced Teeth

If teeth are spaced too far apart, it may be a sign that braces are needed. If your gaps do not change the look of your smile, they may seem harmless. Not spacing your teeth properly can cause oral health issues that appear later on.

You may see that your front teeth are not touching or that food can become stuck in small spaces in your mouth. Even though flossing is simpler between wide teeth, the open spaces can attract bacteria, plaque, and tartar near the gums. With time, plaque accumulation can cause your gums to become inflamed or recede, weakening your teeth.

Teeth may become too far apart for several reasons. Sometimes, your jawbone is larger than usual, allowing more space between your teeth. In some situations, teeth that are missing or habits such as thumb-sucking can lead to shifting that leaves gaps.

Spacing is a bigger issue than appearance because of its effect on your bite. If your teeth are not straight, the uneven force on your jaw can cause pain, discomfort, and sometimes speech problems.

Braces or clear aligners can gradually move your teeth into alignment. It improves your smile and helps protect your teeth and gums over time.

Bad Bite

  1. Overbite

An overbite is when your upper front teeth are too far ahead of your lower front teeth. While a small overbite is usual, a deep overbite can change how your teeth fit together, leading to ongoing dental problems.

You may realize that your bottom teeth are not visible when you smile, and your top teeth seem to stick out more. At times, the lower teeth may come into contact with the roof of your mouth behind your upper front teeth, which can cause irritated gums or damaged enamel on the bottom teeth from constant rubbing.

If left untreated, a major overbite can cause more issues than just how the teeth look. It can cause problems like jaw pain, frequent headaches, and TMJ disorders because it changes the normal movement of your bite. It could also affect your ability to chew food or speak clearly.

Children often develop overbites because of their genes, sucking their thumb for a long time, or using a pacifier for a long period. Over time, adults can experience a worsening condition because their teeth shift and wear down differently.

Braces and similar treatments can slowly guide your upper and lower teeth into a better arrangement. Correcting an overbite helps your smile and protects your teeth, jaws, and oral health for years.

  1. Underbite

When your lower front teeth are in front of your upper front teeth when your mouth is closed, it is called an underbite. Because of this, your jaw may appear more noticeable, and your smile and face profile might change.

Some underbites are not severe, but others can be very noticeable and cause problems with chewing, speaking, or jaw pain. The pressure on your jaw joints from this condition can lead to wear on your teeth, ongoing pain, and problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Most of the time, underbites are due to genetics, but sucking on a thumb or bottle for a long time in childhood can make it worse. In some situations, the lower jaw is positioned too far forward, which causes a skeletal imbalance and cannot be fixed only by braces.

If you do not treat an underbite, it can make it hard to bite and chew properly, which could cause digestive issues. It can lead to uneven wear on your teeth and make it harder to clean crowded or misaligned teeth, increasing your chances of getting gum disease.

Braces, clear aligners, or surgery for the jaw (when needed) can be used to realign your bite and make your smile look better. Addressing an underbite early can improve your bite, appearance, and dental health for years.

  1. Open Bite

An open bite is a condition where your upper and lower teeth do not meet when your mouth is closed, so there is a noticeable space, often between your front teeth. Because of this gap, eating sandwiches or apples can be difficult and may change how you talk.

The problem is usually caused by thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or using a pacifier for a long time when young. Sometimes, the cause is genetic or linked to how the jawbone grows. In any case, the result is that your teeth are not straight and your bite does not work properly.

If not treated, an open bite can cause problems beyond how it looks. It leads to problems with chewing and speaking and more wear on the back teeth, which are used for most chewing. Eventually, it could result in teeth becoming uneven, jaw pain, or problems with the temporomandibular joint.

The treatment plan is based on the severity of the condition and what is causing it. If orthodontic care is given early, braces or habit-correcting appliances may be enough to fix the problem for children. For adults, it may be necessary to use clear aligners or surgery to correct the alignment of their upper and lower teeth.

Correcting an open bite closes the space in your smile and restores proper bite function. It improves your bite and protects your teeth in the long run.

  1. Crossbite

A crossbite happens when your upper teeth are inside your lower teeth instead of outside. It may involve only one or several teeth, which can be in the front (anterior crossbite) or back (posterior crossbite).

It can happen because of genetic factors, late tooth eruption, or habits such as mouth breathing and thumb sucking. A crossbite can make it difficult to chew or speak because it throws your bite out of alignment.

If left untreated, a crossbite can cause your teeth to wear down, cause jaw pain, make your gums recede, or even cause your face to become uneven if the jaw shifts to adjust for the misalignment. You could also bite the inside of your cheeks or tongue by mistake, increasing your chances of getting hurt in your mouth.

Orthodontic treatment is usually effective for treating crossbites. Solutions for children whose jaws are still growing may be braces, clear aligners, or a palatal expander. If the problem is severe in adults, surgery may be required to fix the bite.

A crossbite can be corrected to help your teeth and jaws work together, reducing the risk of problems later on.

Misaligned Jaw

Jaw malocclusion, or a misaligned jaw, happens when your upper and lower jaws do not meet correctly when you close your mouth. When your bite is off, it can hurt your entire oral health.

Some signs to watch for are difficulty chewing, jaw pain, clicking when you open your mouth, and frequent headaches. If the jaw is not aligned, it can cause teeth to wear down too much, TMJ problems, and unevenness in the face.

Reasons for this can be genetic, trauma, long-term thumb sucking, or not treating bites such as underbites, overbites, and crossbites. Sometimes, when jaw misalignment is severe, it can affect how a person speaks and breathes, mainly while sleeping.

The type of treatment needed is based on how much the teeth are misaligned. Braces or aligners are usually effective for treating mild to moderate cases. When the case is more complex, orthognathic surgery might be needed to move the jaw into the right position for both looks and function.

Straightening a misaligned jaw helps bring your teeth, muscles, and joints into balance for better oral and general health in the future.

Regular Jaw Pain

If you keep having jaw pain, especially around your temples, ears, or when you chew, you should pay attention to it. If you have ongoing pain in the jaw, it may be a sign of TMJ dysfunction, crooked teeth, or habits such as teeth grinding caused by stress.

You could experience mild, quick pain or even notice popping or clicking noises when you move your jaw. Sometimes, your neck can hurt or you get tension headaches, making normal activities less comfortable.

The main reason for TMJ is often a bad bite, a misaligned jaw, or uneven pressure on your teeth. If you do not treat these problems, the muscles and joints in your jaw may become strained, which can cause ongoing discomfort.

A dentist can find the reason for your jaw pain. Depending on what is found, your dentist may recommend orthodontic care, nightguards, or other treatments to soothe inflammation and correct your bite.

How to Know if Your Child Should Get Braces

Below are common signs that your child might need braces:

Overlapping Teeth

If you see some of your child’s teeth overlapping or turning crooked, this could be a case of overlapping teeth, which is a common type of dental crowding. This is usually when the mouth is too small for all the teeth to fit properly.

Brushing and flossing can be more difficult with overlapping teeth, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. It might also influence your child’s biting and chewing, resulting in jaw pain or trouble with speech in the future.

A pediatric dentist or orthodontist can check the problem and decide if braces or early treatment might be needed to straighten the teeth.

Difficulty Biting or Chewing

If your child has trouble biting into food or feels pain while chewing, it could mean a problem with their tooth alignment. If your child’s teeth or jaws are not aligned, it can stop the upper and lower teeth from meeting comfortably during meals.

Sometimes, the problem is easy to spot, such as when your child awkwardly moves their jaw while chewing. Other times, the problem is found only during a dental visit. If not handled, these issues may cause poor nutrition, digestive issues, or jaw discomfort.

Proper alignment can be achieved for your child with braces or other orthodontic treatments, which also helps with comfort and function.

Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth

When baby teeth fall out, it is important. If their teeth start falling out earlier or later than usual, it might suggest orthodontic issues. Baby teeth help direct the growth of permanent teeth into their proper places. If they are lost before they should be, the remaining teeth can shift into the empty area, which can cause crowding or misalignment.

If baby teeth are lost late, it might prevent the correct eruption of the adult teeth. Because of this, some people end up with overlapping, crooked teeth or bite problems that may require braces to fix.

Regular visits to the dentist allow your child’s dental health to be monitored and early orthodontic care to be considered if needed.

Mouth Breathing

It might suggest orthodontic issues if your child breathes with their mouth, especially at night. Some people develop chronic mouth breathing because their jaw is narrow or teeth are misaligned, blocking normal airflow through the nose.

As time passes, mouth breathing may cause facial problems such as a long face, small dental arches, or an open bite. It might also lead to dry mouth, making tooth decay and gum disease easier to develop. An evaluation by an orthodontist can show if your child’s mouth breathing is caused by structural issues that can be corrected with early treatment.

Prolonged Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use

While thumb sucking and using a pacifier soothes many infants and toddlers, when they continue past the age of 4 or 5, they can affect the way teeth grow. If a child keeps sucking their thumb or pacifier, the pressure can push their front teeth outward and cause protrusion, open bites, or changes in the jaw.

When your child continues to suck their thumb or pacifier once their baby teeth have started to fall out, you may want to consult an orthodontist. If bite problems are addressed early, they can be stopped from worsening and may require less complicated treatment.

Speech Difficulties

Lisps, slurred words, or difficulty pronouncing some sounds might not only be a developmental issue. They may also point to problems with the teeth or jaw. If your child’s teeth or bite are not straight, using their tongue to make clear sounds can be difficult. If your child’s speech is still unclear after the normal developmental period, you can consult an orthodontist (and a speech therapist, if needed) to find out if braces or other treatments could help.

Moving or Clicking of the Jaw

If you can see that your child’s jaw is shifting to one side when they chew or speak, or if you hear clicking or popping sounds when they open and close their mouth, these might be signs of a jaw or bite problem. Such symptoms could be related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ); if left untreated, they can worsen.

An orthodontic exam can determine if your child’s jaw needs correcting. If your child wears braces or similar orthodontic appliances, their jaw can be guided into a better position, and you may avoid future problems.

Facial Asymmetry

If one side of your child’s face looks different, it may indicate that orthodontic problems are present. The reason for this imbalance might be jaw misalignment, teeth that have not developed evenly, or habits such as thumb sucking.

Minor differences in teeth are normal and usually not a problem, but significant or worsening imbalances might require orthodontic treatment. An early evaluation may show if braces or other treatments are needed to ensure the face grows and functions properly.

Find Reliable Dental Care Services Near Me

Early orthodontic treatment, such as braces, can help adults with jaw pain, crowded teeth, or bite problems. Also, they help parents who are worried about their children’s dental development. At The Whittier Dentist, we offer thorough exams and customized treatment plans for people of all ages. Whether you need a small adjustment as an adult or your child is starting orthodontics for the first time, we can help your family’s dental health. Contact us at 562-632-1223 to make an appointment for an orthodontic consultation to fix braces.