At Least 3 out of 5 individuals have some sort of mis-aligned, rotated, crowded or forwardly placed teeth. Most of these discrepancies can be seen during the late mid-teenage to mid twenties. And this is also the right time to get these corrected without any major delays or highly extensive treatment plans. Yes, a bit of an aesthetically unpleasant smile is the major reason why anyone goes for braces with teeth alignment but did you know that braces can also help prevent a lot of gum and muscle issues occurring due to mal-aligned teeth? Additionally at least half of these cases go undiagnosed or missed and then when the problem becomes severe in your 30s or 40s, it may be a little late.
So read along to know in detail, all the ways braces can help you and how to know if you are the right candidate for them.
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Forwardly placed teeth
As a person goes from their primary or milk teeth to permanent teeth, and as we age, a lot of changes happen in the size of the jaw and the head. Sometimes due to less jaw space, tongue thrust and many other issues, the permanent front teeth might become a bit forward. Such cases, if left untreated can lead to a lot of issues like the lips not being able to close at rest, or hygiene issues in the front teeth due to mouth breathing and an overall awkward look. Braces are a perfect solution for all these issues. -
Gaps between teeth
In the same scenario, there might be cases where the jaw growth is good leading to spaces in between teeth. This might cause 1) an awkward smile 2) irregular Biting force and 3) Food accumulation. Teeth alignment can get rid of these problems and give an aesthetically pleasing smile.
Also in such cases there might be one or two missing teeth or teeth that have not yet erupted. These can be recognized by early detection and xrays. -
Crowded teeth
When the teeth are erupting into the oral cavity, they need proper guidance. Else they erupt in a crowded path without leaving space for each other. This is also why we stress on the importance of primary teeth and early prevention. Crowded teeth will be difficult to clean and cause plaque/debris accumulation- leading to gum inflammation and bleeding gums. They need to be straightened as soon as possible. -
Improper bite leading to gum issues and muscle issues
There is more to your teeth than what we can see from the outside. Functional issues like biting and the relationship between the top and bottom row teeth is very important. If the bite is not proper, if you have too much of a ‘deep bite’ and your lower teeth are hitting your upper front teeth all the time, there are chances of the lower teeth becoming weak, sensitive and even mobile.
Also if you are biting too hard, the outer surfaces of your teeth might erode. And the hard Biting forces can cause a lot of jaw muscle pain and even migraine. This is why an expert eye is needed to look at these issues. -
Other functional problems like mouth breathing, snoring, lip correction and more
Do you have the habit of snoring or keeping your mouth open during the night? Does your mouth become dry and sticky in the morning? This can be due to no proper teeth and lip seal, again caused due to mal-aligned teeth.
Do you have a bottom lip that is jutting out too much and/or an upper lip too thin and revealing a lot of gums while smiling? This can also be corrected by braces.
Conclusion
Braces can straighten the teeth and give a pleasing smile, yes, but braces can also rid you of many more oral problems. One thing to remember here is that the more you delay, the more extensive your treatment becomes. And the more problems are gone undiagnosed. So book your expert dental appointment now and start your smile journey.
