Think a straight smile is just about looks? Think again
It’s a common misconception that crooked teeth are simply a question of aesthetics.
Yet in fact, having a less-attractive smile because of misaligned teeth should actually be the least of your concerns. That’s because crooked teeth can cause many potentially serious health problems – not just in your mouth, but for your general overall health too.
Crooked teeth have many potential causes, from a genetic predisposition to severe facial injury, premature loss of baby teeth, or poor habits during childhood, including thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and excessive use of a dummy.
But no matter the cause, if you’re worried about your crooked teeth, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that up to 20 percent of Australians will be affected by crooked teeth at some point in their lives.
The great news is that Wickham Terrace Dental can treat this common problem with a wealth of modern treatment options.
In this article, we’ll take you through some of the common ways your crooked teeth can affect your health – and look at what you can do about it.
1) Crooked teeth can cause gum disease
One very common result of crooked teeth is gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. This happens because the bacteria which cause the disease can easily accumulate in the spaces around your crooked teeth.
This problem can become even worse when your gums don’t fit snugly around your misaligned teeth, causing pockets to form where bacteria thrive. The result is severe periodontal disease, potential tooth loss, and other problems.
2) You may have an increased risk of tooth injuries
Of course, if your upper teeth are crooked and protrude out from your arch of teeth, they’ll be more exposed to damage when you play sport, or if you have an accident. This means your teeth are more likely to be chipped or cracked if they’re crooked.
3) Crooked teeth are difficult to clean properly
Taking care to clean all the tiny nooks and crannies between your teeth isn’t easy at the best of times. And when you have crooked teeth, your toothbrush and floss have an even harder time cleaning these vital areas between your teeth.
The result is excess bacteria growth, increased plaque build-up, and a greater chance of tooth decay and gum disease.
4) You may experience excessively worn teeth
Crowded or crooked bottom teeth often cause one or more teeth to protrude, and rub against your upper teeth. Over time, this can lead to undue wear of tooth enamel.
What’s more, if you suffer from bruxism (or tooth grinding) while you sleep, your crooked teeth will tend to catch on each other more often – potentially causing enamel erosion, chipping, and even broken teeth.
5) Crooked teeth can cause ongoing pain in your gums, teeth and jaw
If you’ve lived with crooked teeth for some time, you may start noticing pain in your jaw (thanks to a misaligned bite), sore gums, and injury to the inside of your cheeks as you chew with your misaligned teeth.
If left unaddressed, these symptoms can worsen until you experience severe jaw pain, disc slippage, and severe gum problems, eventually resulting in lost teeth. Another very good reason to address your crooked teeth before too much time passes.
6) Misaligned teeth can cause difficulty chewing
Unsurprisingly, teeth work best when they can operate together and chew against each other. So if your teeth aren’t lined up properly, you might find it difficult to chew your food normally.
What’s more, if your crooked upper or lower teeth protrude from your jaw, they’ll tend to rub together in a way that prevents normal jaw alignment, again making it unnecessarily difficult to chew.
7) Crooked teeth can cause bad breath
Crooked teeth can not only look bad, they can smell bad too. That’s because (unless you’ve just chomped into an onion) bad breath is often caused by bacteria lurking in your mouth. And as we’ve seen above, this bacteria tends to thrive in and around the unnatural spaces between crooked teeth.
8) You may experience issues with self-esteem and happiness
Want to feel better about yourself? Then simply smile!
Modern research has shown that smiling often can lower your stress levels and even improve your intellectual ability. On the other hand, many studies have shown that crooked teeth tend to reduce your confidence in your smile – with the effect that you smile less frequently.
Therefore, improving your smile’s appearance can improve your overall happiness too!
9) Crooked teeth can even affect your overall health
You may not realise that problems in your mouth can seriously affect more than just your oral health.
For example, studies by the Australian Dental Association have proven that oral infections are caused by bacteria build-up – which as we’ve seen is promoted by crooked teeth. In turn, these infections can lead to many much more serious ailments, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even pneumonia.
So for the good of your oral and overall health, ask your dentist to investigate the causes and solutions to your crooked teeth today!
What’s the best solution to crooked teeth?
If you’d like to avoid this list of potentially serious problems happening to you, we don’t blame you! Fortunately, at Wickham Terrace Dental we have a number of modern solutions to crooked teeth available for you to choose from.
Discreet teeth straightening options for adults
We understand if you’re worried about how you’ll look as an adult wearing orthodontic braces. And in the past, turning up to work with heavy metal wires and brackets on your smile was certainly a cause for concern.
So we’ve invested heavily in technology and treatments to correct your crooked teeth, without your friends or work colleagues ever knowing you’re having treatment.
Our Principal Dentist Dr Andrew Teakle is fully trained and licensed to provide many advanced orthodontic procedures, including Invisalign as well as more conventional metal options.
With the help of our friendly team, you’re sure to find the treatment that’s just right for you.
To find out which option is best for your individual situation, get in touch with the Wickham Terrace Dental team today on 3831 3031 or get in touch online.