CROOKED TEETH: TREATMENT AND CAUSES
Everyone has a unique smile, just like our personalities. That’s what makes us unique. But what makes us question our smiles in the first place? Crooked or misaligned teeth. Crooked teeth are common in children as well as adults. Having crooked teeth is not a disease, but it may affect your social well-being (if you become conscious) and your psychological and physical health. The potential problems you may face due to misaligned teeth include improper chewing, speech difficulties, lack of satisfaction with your facial appearance or smile, lisping, and jaw pain (in some cases).
If you are unhappy with your crooked teeth, don’t worry, it is fixable. With that said, let’s learn how you can realign crooked teeth. Before that, we will discuss what crooked teeth are:
What are Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth are due to an imbalance in the upper and lower jaws. Sometimes, the lower or upper jaws grow too much or too little and cause misaligned teeth.
Orthodontics advises that crooked teeth are best treatable when gums and teeth are healthy. At the same time, when children reach the age of seven, you need to get their crooked teeth treated at the earliest. Fixing misalignment at the earliest can help avoid hard-to-treat problems in the future. If you want your crooked teeth to be treated, you can reach out to an orthodontist near you. You can easily find them through Google. For instance, if you live in Tampa, Florida, you can simply Google “expert orthodontists near me in Tampa, FL” and book your appointment with the one with good ratings and reviews. The orthodontist will evaluate your teeth and suggest the best treatment accordingly.
Treatment Options for Crooked Teeth:
Here’s how misalignments are fixed depending on your case:
Braces:
There are three types of braces:
- Metal: These are a combination of wire and brackets that helps fix every simple to complex crooked teeth case.
- Ceramics: These are different from conventional metal braces based on their color. People who prefer to have tooth-colored brackets in their braces go for ceramic braces as they are pretty unnoticeable.
- Lingual: These are metal braces placed on the backside of teeth. They are invisible and are perfect for those conscious of having metal braces in front.
Invisalign:
Invisible aligners called “Invisaligns” are transparent trays custom-made by your orthodontist. They are more common in adults since they are barely noticeable and expensive. These must be worn daily for a fixed duration (22 hrs. minimum) and are more convenient and comfortable to use as they apply gentle pressure on your teeth to get the desired results.
Retainers:
If you have slightly misaligned teeth due to overcrowding, then it is fixable with a retainer. Moreover, once your crooked teeth are fixed after wearing braces, retainers are used to maintain alignment. This treatment is only helpful in case your teeth need minor adjustments.
Surgery:
Your orthodontist may suggest surgery to reposition your gums, teeth, or even in some cases, your jaw. These are opted to lessen the duration of wearing braces. Orthodontists usually recommend surgery when misaligned teeth affect your chewing ability or speech.
Causes of Crooked Teeth:
Genetics:
You’re most likely to have crooked teeth if your parents had crooked or misaligned teeth.
Early Baby Tooth Loss:
The empty spaces during early baby tooth loss can cause teeth on either side to tilt or migrate, which can cause crowding when the permanent teeth appear.
Poor Oral Hygiene:
Regular checkups are necessary to keep your teeth healthy and aligned. Poor oral hygiene can result in your teeth being crooked.
Thumb Sucking:
If you had a habit of sucking your thumb at an early age, you likely have crooked teeth. The constant pressure on the gums under development can cause teeth to grow outwards.
Tongue Thrusting:
The consistent pressure of your tongue when you swallow is directed towards your teeth at the front instead of the roof of your mouth; it can result in your teeth getting crooked like thumb sucking.
Malnutrition:
Lack of sufficient nutrients in your diet can cause hinder the growth of your bone, muscle, and tissue growth.
Facial Injury:
Accidents or facial injuries can also misalign your teeth.
Conclusion:
This was all about the treatment options orthodontists suggest for fixing crooked teeth and their causes. Crooked teeth are not a significant problem until and unless they lead to bad oral health. Aligned teeth don’t leave space for bacteria to reside and grow, as they become easier to clean. If you maintain healthy oral hygiene, you can easily prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. Moreover, even if your teeth overlap, healthy gums may support them.
It is worthwhile to note that there is no remedy to treat misalignment naturally. You need to consult an orthodontist to straighten your misaligned teeth.
If you want to get your misaligned teeth sorted out, check out this dentist in Valencia now to get started.
