If you have crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth, you are probably bothered by the look of your smile rather than the health of your smile. However, it is important for patients to realize that straight teeth are equally essential for both aesthetics and function. If you are putting off or ignoring your need for orthodontic treatment, your oral health is compromised in the following ways:
TMJ Disorders: If you experience chronic headaches, jaw pain or popping in your jaw while eating or talking, you may need to address a bite problem. A misaligned bite can put unnecessary strain on your jaw joint and cause disruptive health complications. Consider TMJ treatment or an orthodontic appliance to restore a proper bite.
Damaged Teeth: Again, if your teeth are not aligned properly, it can cause you to bite down in the wrong places. This causes teeth to wear down over time or even result in damage to tooth fillings or other dental work.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Crowded, overlapping and crooked teeth can present significant challenges when it comes to keeping them clean. It is common to see an increase in tartar and plague buildup in patients who have a crooked smile, which means you are at a higher risk for cavities. Straight teeth are much easier to brush and floss!
Gum Disease: This is a further consequence of compromised oral hygiene in patients with crooked or crowded teeth. Gum disease means you have increased bacteria levels in your mouth, which can also lead to other overall health complications. Periodontal disease has been associated with stroke, diabetes, obesity and premature labor.
Is your less than perfect smile affecting your oral health? Ask your dentist. Dr. Porcaro helps patients achieve healthy, attractive, long-lasting smiles using her extensive training and experience in both restorative dentistry and Six Month Smiles orthodontics. If you need more in depth smile correction treatments, we can refer you to a skilled orthodontist in the area.
