When someone gets braces, chances are your first thought is that they want a straighter, more beautiful smile. However, if you take a deeper look at some of the common, seemingly “cosmetic” reasons people use orthodontia, you find that left untreated, they may cause oral health issues.
Let’s take a look at some of these “cosmetic” reasons:
A crossbite is when a portion of upper teeth position themselves inside the lower teeth while biting down. Leaving a crossbite untreated can wear teeth down, and contribute to gum disease.
When there is not enough space in the mouth, teeth begin to overlap, rotate, or grow in unnatural positions. This can cause excessive and uneven wear. It also makes brushing and flossing more difficult, which can leave teeth more prone to cavities, and increases the risk of gingivitis.
Close your eyes and picture Madonna. Her famous smile is one of the most obvious examples of spacing, which is when teeth are farther apart than they should be. Food can get caught in the extra space between teeth, allowing the starch and acid to do their damage. Spacing may also affect bite, causing excessive wear on the teeth.
Those whose upper teeth overlap their lower teeth more than normal have an overbite. Severe overbites can case the lower teeth to impact the roof of the mouth, and can cause jaw pain and headaches.
Underbite is when the lower teeth protrude past the upper teeth. Do you know the problems it can cause? Not only can it affect speech, it can also cause pain in your joints and jaw.
Orthodontia can be used to correct any of the above issues, and in turn, can sometimes correct the issues such as TMJ, sleep apnea, and teeth grinding that are associated with them.
To learn more about orthodontics, and the options offered at Chanhassen Family Dentistry, call us at 952-443-3368.