There are many reasons people get braces, some are obvious and others aren’t as obvious. If you have any of the following issues, it may be time to see an orthodontist and find out if you need braces.
- Top teeth overlap bottom teeth – We should all have a little bit of an overbite where your upper teeth slightly overlap your lower teeth. But, if you notice that when you bite down, you don’t see much of your lower teeth, you have too much of an overbite. Having a minor overlap is not a problem, but a more severe overlap can cause dental issues and should be corrected to avoid the most common problem, premature tooth wear.
- Top teeth protrude out over the lower teeth – When your upper teeth are jetted out significantly over your lower teeth, this is called an overjet. Having too much overjet can cause trauma to your upper front teeth, most times from falling, because they will be the first to take the impact. This can be corrected with braces in combination with rubber bands and for more severe cases surgery to align the jaws.
- Bottom teeth overlap top teeth – This type of bite is called an underbite and is treated similarly to an overbite, by aligning your jaws or teeth.
- Top and bottom front teeth don’t touch – An open bite can make it difficult to bite or chew foods, and may affect your speech. While sometimes genetic, open bites can also be caused by prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use.
- Teeth don’t meet on each side – If your top and bottom teeth on the sides of your mouth don’t line up when you close your mouth, you may have a crossbite, which can cause your teeth to wear unevenly. Crossbites are fixed by aligning your teeth or jaws, depending on what is causing the issue.
- Teeth are crooked – This is the most common reason people go to see an orthodontist and is most likely what you think of when you hear someone is getting braces. Your teeth can be crooked for a variety of reasons, such as your adult teeth may have come in around baby teeth that didn’t fall out right away, or you may not have enough space in your jaw to accommodate all of your adult teeth. Whatever the reason, crooked or crowded teeth can be hard to clean and may make you self-conscious, but they are easily moved back into place with braces or Invisalign.
- Too much space between teeth – This is the opposite problem of having crowded teeth, but it can also cause issues and is very treatable with braces or Invisalign.
- Jaw or mouth pain – Not all orthodontic issues are visible, some may only be felt, but that doesn’t make them any smaller. If you experience jaw or mouth pain on a regular basis, you should see an orthodontist right away to determine what is causing your discomfort.
- Difficulty biting or chewing – Teeth that are misaligned can negatively affect your ability to eat comfortably. If you have trouble eating or find yourself frequently biting the insides of your cheeks or your tongue, it may be because your teeth are crooked or your bite is off.
- Speech issues – Not being able to speak clearly can be caused by many things, one of which is an orthodontic issue. If you have trouble saying certain words, or if you notice your child is struggling, it may be time to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist.
If you or your child has one or more of these issues, it’s time to see an orthodontist and find out if orthodontic treatment can help. Charleston Orthodontic Specialists offers a free initial exam, so don’t hesitate to call us at (843) 4-BRACES to schedule an appointment.