Having crooked teeth may seem harmless, but it can host several dental and medical problems down the road. We often take misaligned teeth as an aesthetic flaw. However, fixing crooked teeth is more than what meets the eye.
Proper teeth alignment contributes to smooth jaw movements and our ability to chew and speak with ease. Any disruption from the tooth and jaw coordination breeds a domino of health problems.
In this post, we will share the health risks that come with crooked teeth and why you should not take them lightly.
Health risk factors of crooked teeth
A straight smile ensures the proper distribution of pressure between your lower and upper teeth. With crooked or crowded teeth, your mouth will catch up on the displaced pressure from your misaligned bite and may result in the following health risks:
Chipped and worn down teeth
When you have crooked teeth, your bite puts misplaced pressure on the parts of your teeth that are not built for it. Therefore, resulting in the damage of tooth enamel that progresses to overall tooth damage.
Over time, your teeth can end up chipped, fractured, or show extreme wear and tear. Other implications of these dental conditions are throbbing toothache, tooth infection, increased tooth sensitivity, and even tooth loss.
Chewing difficulties that can result in indigestion
Digestion begins in our mouths. Our saliva and tooth structure is built to break down food and help aid in good digestion. However, misaligned teeth cannot provide an optimal tearing, and grinding of food which can further result in indigestion and poor nutrition.
Bad breath
Bad breath or halitosis comes from the concentration of bacteria present in our mouth. Crooked teeth create a perfect environment for bacteria to propagate. The nooks and crannies of crooked teeth are harder to clean, which can intensify bacterial growth and stinky breath.
Psychosocial effects
Most of us believe that a smile is our best asset. With a broken smile or crooked teeth, it is easy to feel embarrassed and develop negative feelings about yourself. Crooked teeth can also impair speech that can cause patients to be less active during social interactions.
Disrupted jaw development
Teeth alignment is crucial from the day we start developing our teeth. It contributes to the proper spacing of teeth below the gum line and prevents misaligned jaws. However, if you grow up with crooked teeth, your jaw will stop developing to adapt to your misaligned bite.
Speech problems like lisp
Due to the pockets of airways between crooked teeth, speech problems like lisp may start to develop. The misaligned structure of teeth can affect the proper placement of the tongue, which makes it difficult for patients to pronounce words and letters.
Increased risk of gum infection
Crooked teeth increase the patient’s risk of developing tooth decay and gingivitis or gum inflammation. Therefore, patients must perform rigorous flossing and brushing to combat plaque buildup. Otherwise, the bacteria will start infiltrating the gums and host a systemic infection.
Gum infection can lead to periodontal disease that has been associated with numerous chronic diseases and life-threatening conditions like stroke.
Take the opportunity to correct your crooked teeth before it’s too late
Your crooked teeth are like a ticking time bomb. It only takes a matter of time before it shows its damaging effects on your overall health. Sadly, most patients only realize the importance of proper teeth alignment when they start to experience the impact of crooked or misaligned teeth.
The good thing is you can still prevent the health risks associated with malocclusion or misaligned teeth by scheduling an appointment today. Soft Touch Dental provides orthodontic treatments in Florissant and other neighboring communities. Call us now and let us help you keep your oral health from getting worse.
