Straight Teeth in Less Time
Dental Bites Make Dental Health Harder
Lois Murray
When you bite down, your teeth are meant to line up. This is the most efficient position for your teeth to bite food and speak. When things don't quite line up, it can lead to some dental issues and make your teeth more difficult to clean and care for. If you have a bite problem, your dentist may identify and try to correct it. These are some of the most common bite issues you should be aware of.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth can interlock with the lower teeth. The result is often teeth or a jaw bone that are not aligned correctly. Only one or two teeth may be impacted by the crossbite, though in some cases it can be several teeth.
If you do not fix your crossbite, you may notice that your jaw is lopsided. It can also lead to a lot of wearing down of your teeth prematurely.
Underbite
Underbites are incredibly common, and they result when the top teeth bite down behind the lower teeth. Again, this kind of bite can cause a lot of wear on your teeth. It can also cause a lot of undue stress on your jaw, leading to pain and perhaps tooth grinding at night.
Spacing
Spaced bites are also problematic. This bite results when there is a lot of space between the teeth. Perhaps some teeth are missing or the teeth are not the proper size.
When you are dealing with a spaced bite, you may notice that food frequently gets stuck between your teeth. This results in cavities and gum disease, especially without proper cleaning techniques. It is important to clean the gums thoroughly to ensure you don't face disease from food debris.
Crowding
In some cases, a person's bite is simply crowded. This kind of bite problem is the opposite of spacing.
There may not be enough space in the mouth for all the teeth, which means that teeth might start to overlap and rotate. This can result in crooked teeth that are hard to clean and get cavities quite easily. People with crowded bites are more prone to gum disease.
Contact Your Family Dentist Today
Your family dentist can help you through the process of assessing your bite and making sure that you have the best resources available to help you fix your bite. Make an appointment today to discuss your dental health and fixing your bite. For more information about visiting a family dentistry office, contact a local dentist.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.