If you have misaligned teeth, you know that it can have quite the negative impact on your self-image and self-confidence. When you have crooked teeth, you are far less likely to flash a smile to others, and that can make you appear less welcoming. Not only that, but misaligned teeth can impair your speech and also impact how you eat. Having your teeth straightened can be wonderfully life changing. And with today’s modern dental technology, braces don’t have to be as intrusive or obvious as they once were. Read on to learn more about the various issues that orthodontics can treat.

10 Issues that Orthodontics Can Help Solve

If you are considering orthodontics, you have taken the first step to obtaining a more confident and winning smile. But braces can solve more than you might think. And remember, modern braces aren’t just for kids. More and more adults are embracing the concept of orthodontics to solve a variety of dental issues. Here are 10 common issues that orthodontics can help make a thing of the past.

1. Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth can cause bite problems, difficulty flossing and brushing, tooth damage, bad breath, and even gum disease. Further, overly crowded teeth can lead to chronic stress headaches, neck and jaw pain due to misalignment, and increased clenching. Orthodontics can be used to fix your bite, not only improving your self-esteem and happiness level, but helping you to eat better, sleep better, and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

2. Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth cause excess wear and tear on your teeth, gums, and jaw muscles. This strain can lead to cracked teeth, jaw strain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), migraines, speech difficulties, and more. Straightening your teeth with orthodontics can ease your headaches and prevent further damage down the track.

3. Overbite

In the worst of cases, an overbite can lead to problems such as jaw pain, tooth decay, or gum disease. For kids, a dentist or orthodontist can use orthodontics to treat an overbite. In some cases, adults can use orthodontics to fix an overbite, but surgery may also be needed to fully correct the misalignment.

4. Underbite

Underbites cause wear and tear on your front teeth, making them more prone to chipping or breakage. When your jaw isn’t properly aligned, it can also cause challenges with chewing. Adults with underbites are often self-conscious about the condition and turn to orthodontics for correction.

5. Crossbite

When crossbites are left untreated, they can lead to jaw pain or other problems such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The additional pressure placed on the jaw from a crossbite can create facial pain, migraines, neck, and shoulder pain too. Correcting a crossbite with orthodontics safeguards your teeth and can help ease the debilitating pain of TMD.

6. Open bite

Many people with an open bite are dissatisfied with the appearance of their teeth because it looks as though their teeth are sticking out. An open bite can also interfere with speech and word pronunciation, and many children with an open bite develop a lisp. Orthodontic correction not only corrects this cosmetic issue, but improves speech and communication issues.

7. Spacing and Gaps

When teeth are too closely spaced together, it can make it challenging to maintain proper oral hygiene, especially if you find it difficult to floss between crowded teeth. When we can’t get into tough spaces by brushing or flossing, bacteria can start to grow. This bacteria eventually leads to plaque, which can cause tooth decay, halitosis, and periodontal disease.

8. Impacted Teeth

Impacted teeth can cause pain, damage to your other teeth, and a variety of other dental problems. An impacted tooth is also more difficult to clean, increasing the risks of tooth decay and gum disease. In some cases, orthodontics can create more space in your mouth to allow the impacted tooth to fully erupt.

9. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

When temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is untreated, it can leave you with lingering pain or tenderness in your jaw. Further, you can experience difficulty or pain while chewing and even speaking, migraines, and other chronic conditions. TMD is also affiliated with chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbances, and fibromyalgia. Orthodontics can be used to align the jaw properly, eliminating the pain and risk of comorbid conditions.

10. Mouth Breathing

Breathing from your mouth instead of predominantly through your nose can dry out your gums and the soft tissues that line your mouth. As a result, the natural bacteria in your mouth can change, making you more susceptible to gum disease or tooth decay. Orthodontics can change the shape of the jaw so your mouth naturally closes and encourages breathing through your nose.

Considering orthodontics to solve your dental woes? Contact Dallas Cosmetic Dental.

Whether you are looking for traditional braces or Invisalign clear aligners, or if you are struggling with one of the previously mentioned dental woes, orthodontics may be a game changer. Dallas Cosmetic Dental offers orthodontic services for both children and adults. So if you live or work in the Dallas area and want to straighten your smile, there is no time like the present to request an appointment for an orthodontics consultation with Dr. Alhadef.