No one dreams of having a mouth full of crooked teeth. Many people decide to get braces because they want a more attractive smile, but did you know that crooked teeth can actually cause health issues?
Before we dive in to how exactly the alignment of your teeth is connected to your health, let’s start with the basics.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth can be caused by a multitude of reasons:
- Teeth are too small or too large
- Upper and bottom jaw are different sizes and push teeth out at odd angles, causing an overbite or underbite
- Teeth are too crowded, forcing them to grow in different directions
How Can Crooked Teeth Impact My Health?
Here are 4 health issues that may be connected to your crooked teeth:
1. Jaw Pain & Headaches
Biting down on uneven teeth can trigger pressure points in your jaw and cause painful headaches.
2. Uneven Wear
When pressure is put on crooked teeth, for instance while chewing or when grinding teeth while sleeping, they can wear unevenly. Aside from damaging your enamel, this pressure can cause teeth to eventually loosen and sometimes even fall out. Due to this risk, the sooner you fix crooked teeth, the better.
3. Gum Disease
Crooked teeth can contribute to gum disease because bacteria can nestle more easily into those hard-to-clean spaces between teeth and infect the gum tissue. It’s much easier to effectively brush and floss teeth that are straight.
4. Low Self-Esteem
It might seem silly, but low self-esteem is no laughing matter. Crooked teeth make people feel self-conscious; individuals with crooked teeth might be less likely to smile, or participate in conversations in public. It really can impact your mental health and quality of life.
Come See Us
The straighter your teeth are, the healthier they’ll be. If you’re worried about having crooked teeth, now’s your chance to make a change. Contact our friendly team today to discuss your options. We’re looking forward to speaking with you!
