Crooked teeth affect more than just your appearance. When teeth don’t align together properly, they can cause oral health consequences that impact your smile. Here’s how misaligned teeth can affect your oral health as well as what you can do about it!

Crooked Teeth Are Difficult to Clean

When teeth are crowded or overlap, they’re difficult to properly clean. Even with the right tools and habits such as daily brushing and flossing, misaligned teeth make it more difficult to adequately remove plaque to prevent oral health problems.

If plaque is left on the teeth—especially near the gumline—it can build up and form into a hardened substance called tartar. Both plaque and tartar can cause gingivitis, the beginning stage of gum disease. Having misaligned teeth influences your risk of developing gum disease in your lifetime [1].

Misaligned Teeth Can Increase Your Risk for Bruxism

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is when you consciously or unconsciously grind your teeth. Bruxism is incredibly damaging to your teeth and could happen due to stress, anxiety, or a misaligned bite [2].

When teeth don’t sit properly in the jaw, it can place stress on your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can lead to tension and pain. The relationship between bruxism and TMJ disorders is complex, but misaligned teeth are a risk factor for both conditions.

Potential Jaw Issues

Misaligned teeth can also exist with an improper bite, which can place stress on the jaw. This could lead to TMJ symptoms such as jaw stiffness and pain as we’ve seen, or it could even lead to problems with speaking and chewing [3]. Typically, people who correct their misaligned teeth experience a decrease in their symptoms and are able to chew and speak more comfortably.

Treatment Options for Misaligned Teeth

There are many treatment options for crooked teeth to help improve your appearance, your oral health, and your bite. Your choices will all depend on your unique case which makes getting an assessment with your dentist or orthodontist an important step.

You may have the option of going with a retainer-type device that helps move your bite or teeth into their proper positions, or, more commonly, you’ll have the option of braces or Invisalign. Your oral healthcare professional can let you know more about your treatment options during your consultation!

Are Misaligned Teeth Impacting Your Oral Health?

If you have misaligned teeth and your oral health has been impacted, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist to see what can be done. Crooked teeth can influence your risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw discomfort, and straightening your teeth can be an influential form of treatment to help improve your oral health!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html#Risk
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teeth-grinding
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553375/

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For some patients who have bite or skeletal problems with their jaw that affect their daily function and cause pain, surgical orthodontics may be necessary. Let’s dig a little deeper into what surgical orthodontics is and what it could mean for you!

What Is Surgical Orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics is a form of orthodontic treatment designed for people who have issues that can’t be corrected with braces or other orthodontic devices alone. Surgical orthodontics can help these people have a shorter treatment time and an improved aesthetic for their orthodontia [1].

For some people who need surgical orthodontics, orthodontic appliances will be used both before and after the surgery to correct the teeth and bite. It’s important to know all your options when pursuing orthodontic treatment so that you can make the best decision for you.

Who Qualifies?

Not everyone will need surgical orthodontics to correct their smile. However, if your upper and lower jaws don’t quite fit together and they prevent you from chewing and speaking properly or without discomfort, it could be time to consult an oral surgeon.

Sometimes surgical orthodontics is necessary for adults whose jaws have fully formed and so are more difficult to maneuver into their proper positions than a child or teenager. Generally, surgical orthodontics is reserved for more severe or challenging orthodontic cases.

You won’t know for certain if you qualify without an exam and consultation with your orthodontist. For some people, the cause of their jaw misalignment will be genetic and have to do with their facial structure, while for others, an injury could have done damage that requires surgery to fix [2].

What to Expect if Surgical Orthodontic Treatment Is Necessary

To determine if you might need surgical orthodontic treatment, you’ll visit your orthodontist, who may refer you to an oral surgeon. If they recommend surgical orthodontics to move forward with your treatment, your oral surgeon and orthodontist will work closely together throughout each phase in the process to achieve your beautiful, functional smile as the end result [3].

Your oral surgeon and orthodontist will design a comprehensive treatment plan that includes predictable outcomes based on your unique facial structure. They’ll discuss with you if you need braces before or after the treatment. If you need braces after, your treatment will usually begin about 4-6 weeks after your procedure.

Is Surgical Orthodontics for You?

To find out if you could need surgical orthodontics to correct your smile and alleviate your jaw pain, schedule an appointment with your experienced dentist who can refer you to an orthodontist or oral surgeon if necessary. Living without jaw pain is possible, and your oral healthcare professionals are here to help you get there!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28538022
2. https://www.aaoinfo.org/blog/parent-s-guide-post/surgical-orthodontics/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3805731/pdf/10-1055-s-0033-

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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

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