Misaligned teeth don’t just affect the appearance of your smile; they can have actual
consequences on your health that may only get worse if not corrected. What damage can
misaligned teeth cause?

Erosion of Gum Tissue

Our gums protect our teeth and keep them strong in our jaws. With nearly half of American
adults having some form of gum disease, keeping your gum tissue as healthy as possible is
essential to protecting your teeth.

Misaligned teeth play a role in gum health. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) note that crooked teeth can be a risk factor for gum disease, which includes
gum recession [1].

When the teeth don’t align properly, bite force can be unevenly distributed across the teeth
which can lead to excessive stress placed on the gums and alveolar bone, leading to
inflammation and possibly gum recession.

Trouble Chewing Food

Misaligned teeth can also lead to trouble chewing food. With uneven bite pressure, crooked
teeth may not be able to break down food as well as straight teeth before it enters the
stomach, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues.

The American Dental Association acknowledges that crooked teeth may interfere with eating
[2]. This can lead to bloating, gas, cramping, and can even contribute to the development of
stomach ulcers.

Difficulty Cleaning

Crooked teeth are notoriously difficult to clean [3]. When teeth overlap or are crowded
together, it can feel impossible to properly brush and floss your mouth. Misaligned teeth are
often subject to an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay as a result.

If you have misaligned teeth, keeping up with your regular dental appointments is going to be
essential to preventing cavities and periodontal disease which could disrupt your smile.

Headaches

People who suffer from frequent headaches or migraines may have their teeth to blame. When
the teeth don’t come together properly, the jaw may try to compensate for the misaligned bite
which can cause stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

The TMJ can be responsible for many issues, including earaches or frequent ear infections,
headaches, and chronic jaw or facial pain. Even neck pain and upper back pain have been linked
to TMJ. Consider an exam with your dentist if you suffer from headaches but haven’t had your
jaw evaluated as the culprit!

Tooth Sensitivity

Uneven wear on crooked teeth can cause tooth sensitivity. When certain teeth are worn down
more than the others, this can lead to exposed dentin, the softer tissue beneath tooth enamel.
Once dentin is exposed, temperature can travel to the nerves at the center of your tooth,
leading to painful tooth sensitivity that can make eating or drinking hot or cold foods
unpleasant at best and excruciating at worst.

Misaligned teeth might not be as easy to spot as you think. For many people, straight teeth
could still mean a misaligned bite. Getting a comprehensive exam with your professional
dentist can tell you if your teeth are misaligned and could be causing dental health problems
you’re not yet aware of!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.htm
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/teens/concerns
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/oral-health/are-you-too-old-for-braces

The post Misaligned Teeth Could Be Causing More Damage Than You Think appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What are the benefits of needing orthodontic headgear? Here’s how these appliances can help
many patients have their best smile!

Exert Additional Force

Orthodontic headgear provides additional force needed to move your teeth into their correct
positions. In many cases, the back molars will provide the proper support to move these teeth,
but in others, they won’t suffice.

Headgear relies on a strap that goes behind the neck or head that helps apply extra pressure
and move the teeth faster and into more accurate positions. In some cases, headgear can also
influence facial structure, making it important in cases where a severe overbite or underbite are
affecting facial development in children.

Accelerate Orthodontics

Orthodontic headgear does not need to be worn all day every day. In many cases, it’s rare that
your orthodontist would recommend it to be worn for more than 12-14 hours a day. Wearing
headgear for a limited amount of time is still effective for moving the teeth.

One of the major benefits of headgear is that it’s not only ideal for certain orthodontic cases, it
can also speed up treatment time in cases that might otherwise be complex and time-
consuming to treat. The additional force helps to move teeth in a shorter period of time so
treatment time may be faster!

Necessary for Some Cases

Orthodontists only use headgear when it’s necessary. This might be for cases where the front
teeth need to be moved forward instead of back, or closing a large gap that would otherwise
cause the back teeth to move forward with traditional orthodontic treatment.

Headgear is often necessary in cases where severe overbites or underbites are impeding the smile. Your orthodontist might also suggest headgear for your child in cases where the jaw is not developing correctly since it can help facilitate proper facial development.

Orthodontic headgear won’t be necessary for all cases of orthodontics, but both children and
adults can benefit from headgear in certain cases. If you need headgear, don’t stress. You won’t
need to wear it all day, just when you’re at home or asleep, and your treatment will be over
before you know it. Your orthodontist will let you know if you need to consider headgear to
perfect your smile or your child’s smile!

The post What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Headgear? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.