Bite issues happen when the bottom and top teeth don’t fit together correctly, resulting in a misaligned jaw. Misaligned teeth cannot offer sufficient face muscle support crucial for swallowing and chewing. An unbalanced bite causes muscles to overwork, resulting in pain that manifests as headaches, migraines, and other signs.
Malocclusion or a bad bite may cause significant teeth and enamel wear and tear and radically affect your face’s appearance. There are several bite issues that can affect kids and adults. Luckily, they can be corrected. Discussed below are five common bite problems.
1. Dental crowding
In teeth crowding, teeth don’t grow in their natural positions due to a lack of sufficient room. They instead try competing for space with the others, resulting in crowded, crooked teeth that aren’t correctly lined up. Teeth crowding may result from additional adult teeth and abnormally large teeth. It may also be due to unusual tooth growth or losing milk teeth prematurely. Teeth crowding may also be hereditary. If left untreated, this bite problem can cause trouble chewing and periodontal disease.
You may find yourself being self-conscious or suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Additionally, cleaning crowded teeth is challenging and can lead to poor oral hygiene. This may lead to tooth decay and unpleasant odors. You can visit an orthodontics office, such as braces Ogden Utah, to get this bite issue fixed.
2. Overbite
An overbite is a teeth misalignment issue resulting from upper front teeth protruding past the lower front ones. This malocclusion may arise from thumb sucking, extended bottle feeding or pacifier use, or nail biting. Teeth grinding and tongue thrusting can also lead to this bite problem. An overbite makes it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene, causing periodontitis or gingivitis. It can also damage your jaw structure and teeth while impacting speech and causing facial pain.
Overbites can be fixed using braces or Invisalign aligners. If your overbites are severe, your orthodontist may suggest oral surgery as the best treatment option. Retainers can also help correct this malocclusion.
3. Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the upper jaw is overly narrow than it sits in the lower one. It can affect one tooth or a group of teeth. Crossbites are of two types, including:
- Anterior: This crossbite involves some or one of the upper front teeth sitting behind the lower front teeth
- Posterior: It results from the upper back teeth sitting inside the bottom teeth, making them appear like they’re tilted in towards the tongue
A crossbite is normally due to skeletal or dental issues or the two combined. Baby teeth not falling out or premature baby teeth loss that results in teeth drifting can lead to a crossbite. An untreated crossbite can result in enamel breakdown, unbalanced facial features, or uneven jaw growth. It may also lead to receding gums, cavities, or tooth wear. This bite problem can be treated using braces, palatal expanders, or removable appliances, such as clear aligners. Myofunctional therapy and fixed palatal crib can also help fix this problem.
4. Spacing
Excess spaces between your teeth, which aren’t as a result of missing teeth, cause teeth gaps. This bite problem might be genetic. It may also be due to a size difference between the lower and the upper jawbones or teeth size. Teeth gaps make it hard to clean between teeth, causing plaque build-up. If ignored, the plaque build-up can harden and become tartar.
Teeth gaps may result in speech impediment issues like lisps. They might also make it difficult to chew, particularly when consuming tough foods, forcing you to swallow huge food chunks, which can cause digestion problems. Composite or dental bonding can help fix teeth spaces. Veneers, bridges, implants, and other treatments can be used to correct dental spacing.
5. Open bite
An open bite happens when teeth in the lower and upper jaws don’t come in contact when you close your mouth. This could be due to poor oral habits like tongue thrusting or genetics. It can also result from jaw traumas, rheumatoid arthritis, or improper tongue posture. An open bite can cause:
- Digestive problems from chewing troubles
- Speech impediments
- Tooth decay due to excessive bacterial growth
- Periodontal and gum disease
- Earaches and headaches
- Snoring
Oral surgery, braces, or Invisalign clear aligners can correct an open bite.
Endnote
Bite issues can lead to many problems that can significantly impact oral health. Familiarize yourself with the common bite problems, what you can do to fix them, and how to avoid them for sound oral health.
