The diminished esthetic value of your smile is a significant concern when it comes to crooked teeth, but appearance alone isn’t exactly a danger. Yet, the significant impacts that tooth misalignment can have on your oral health bite function could prove seriously harmful if not corrected. At our Columbia, TN, office, we can help you avoid these dangers by designing an appropriate orthodontic solution for straightening your crooked teeth.
Easier plaque and tartar formation
Symmetry is an important factor in your smile’s appearance, but also in your ability to keep your teeth clean and healthy. When you brush and floss your teeth, the goal is to remove all traces of food particles and oral bacteria from their surfaces. However, if teeth aren’t correctly aligned, then it’s much more difficult to clean every part of their surfaces. Plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) can develop easier on areas that are covered by overlapping edges, or that are turned in a way that your toothbrush and floss cannot reach them.
Heightened risks of bite dysfunction
In addition to daily cleaning, crooked teeth also affect the overall function of your bite. When you close your jaw, your upper and lower teeth should all meet each other squarely. When they don’t, the jaw joints (TMJs) that control your bite’s movement can’t open and close correctly. This can lead to painful, diminished function (TMJ disorder) that causes improper pressure distribution among your teeth when you bite and chew.
Greater chance of tooth loss
The heightened risks of plaque and tartar development (which is the foundation of chronic dental issues) and the potential for bite dysfunction make crooked teeth more likely to be lost for several different reasons. For example, increased plaque means a greater risk of gum disease development, the biggest cause of tooth loss. TMJ disorder can make teeth more likely to become damaged, which could become worse due to imbalanced bite pressure.
Avoid these dangers with orthodontics
The dangers of crooked teeth can be significant, but you can avoid many of them with the help of the orthodontic treatment. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call Creekside Family Dental Care in Columbia, TN, today at (931) 388–3384. Since 1985, we’ve proudly served patients living in Lewisburg, Lawrenceburg, Hohenwald, Centerville, Pulaski, and all surrounding communities.
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