Straightening your teeth is about much more than creating a pretty smile. It most certainly will do that, but there are many physical and emotional effects of misaligned teeth that others don’t see as much.
Individuals who have imperfect teeth most likely experience some or all of the following on a regular basis. In fact, they may be so accustomed to modifying the way they talk and speak that they don’t even realize things could be better.
Emotional and Physical Effects of Misaligned Teeth
1. TMJ Disorder Due to Jaw Misalignment
The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull. If your upper and lower jaws are misaligned, you could experience TMJ disorder. It is characterized by a clicking of the jaw, headaches due to clenching your teeth, pain, and many other general and dental health issues.
2. Improper Bite
Individuals with overbites, underbites, or gaps between their upper and lower jaws may not be able to bite properly. This may include things like an inability to break through a pickle in a sandwich or cleanly bite off a piece of pizza.
An improper bite means you may rely on your back teeth more than you would if your front teeth were properly aligned, which could cause problems for the back teeth.
In extreme cases, it may even create a choking hazard due to larger chunks of food falling back into your throat.
3. Improper Formation of Certain Sounds
Perhaps one of the most troubling effects of misaligned teeth, forming sounds like “C”, “S” “J” and “T” can look and sound awkward. This may lead individuals to avoid such things as public speaking or to have greater anxiety during job interviews than they typically would.
4. Overall Lower Self-Esteem
We’re not saying that individuals with crooked teeth have low self-esteem by any means. You’re more beautiful when you smile no matter what, whether your teeth are straight, crooked, or missing altogether.
However, straightening your teeth may boost your confidence level even higher than it already is.
5. Challenges When Brushing and Flossing
If your teeth are crooked, certain tooth surfaces may be blocked by other teeth, making it nearly impossible for your toothbrush to reach every surface. It also may be harder for you to floss due to possibly tighter spaces between teeth. Both of these can lead to yellowing of the teeth, tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis or other forms of periodontal disease.
6. Unnatural Chewing
Straight teeth fit together like Lego pieces to help you chew properly. If your back teeth are misaligned, you could be chewing on only half of a tooth or on teeth that are not as sharp as they should be. You also may be insecure about how you look when you chew.
Additionally, your back teeth could possibly become weaker and chip more easily as a result.
7. Decreased Confidence in Your Smile
Individuals with misaligned teeth may think twice before they smile in public, or they might find themselves squeezing their lips shut as they laugh. That’s no way to live; you should be able to smile and laugh freely for a happier quality of life.
8. Greater Chances for Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
As noted above, the negative effects of crooked teeth include a greater chance for tooth decay and damage. This is true for a number of the above-mentioned reasons, including:
- An inability to brush every surface
- Difficulty when flossing
- Unnecessary stress on your back teeth
- Hitting your back teeth improperly when chewing
Explore Tooth Straightening Options
Are you tired of living with the effects of misaligned teeth? You don’t have to continue adapting in order to deal with it!
Call us or make an appointment to discuss tooth straightening options.