Dental

Common Orthodontic Issues You Must Know About

You must not ignore teeth and jaw issues. Dental care is essential at every stage of life. There are several orthodontic issues you must know about. 

Crowding

Crowding happens when there isn’t enough space in your mouth for all your teeth to sit comfortably. As a result, some teeth may overlap or wiggle out of alignment.

It is caused by several factors, including:

  • Genetics
  • Early loss of baby teeth
  • Habits like thumb-sucking during childhood

If you thought your smile looks a bit topsy-turvy contact Balhoff Orthodontics. The team is trained and has experience of more than two decades in providing quality orthodontic treatment in Lafayette. 

Spacing issues

Spacing occurs between teeth, when there is missing teeth or if your jaw is larger than average. 

It is bad because:

  • Spacing can lead to food getting stuck between those gaps and might also affect how you bite down.
  • While having a little extra space might not seem like such a big deal at first glance, it can impact both aesthetics and function over time.
  • The gaps between teeth are harder to clean, which can lead to gum disease.

Overbite

Overbiting occurs when your upper front and lower front teeth overlap more than they should when you bite.

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Everyone has a little bit of an overbite but if it is excessive, it can cause pain in your jaw. Overtime, this can wear down some teeth and even hamper your speech. 

Underbite

An underbite occurs when the lower front teeth stick out beyond the upper front teeth when biting down – think “jaw jut.” 

This condition often results from genetics but can also occur from tongue thrusting (where tongue is pushed against your front teeth).

Underbites can create challenges with chewing and speaking clearly. It might even give rise to jaw discomfort because everything is not aligned as it should be!

Crossbite

Crossbites are another tricky situation where either one tooth or multiple ones don’t align properly when biting down—some upper teeth sit inside lower ones instead! 

This misalignment could occur on just one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). Crossbites often arise from skeletal discrepancies between jaw sizes but may also develop due to dental issues.

If left untreated over time—especially during growth spurts—it could lead not only to cosmetic concerns but also functional difficulties while chewing.

Open Bite

An open bite occurs when there is no contact between certain opposing molars while biting down. It usually results from prolonged thumb sucking or tongue thrusting habits during childhood years but can also have genetic roots too!

Open bites complicate eating tasks since they prevent proper crushing action needed for food breakdown.

Misaligned Teeth 

Misaligned teeth can be from birth or the unevenness can develop through wear-and-tear over time—misalignment makes smiles less than picture-perfect!

Misaligned bites put pressure on specific areas leading towards discomfort while chewing/eating which isn’t ideal either way around!

Wrapping It Up 

So there you have the lowdown on some common orthodontic problems that many people face today! From crowding woes causing tooth traffic jams all way through open bites making munchies difficult!

If any sound familiar don’t worry! Modern orthodontics has advanced treatment options tailored specifically towards each individual’s needs—from traditional braces & clear aligners right through surgical interventions if necessary! 

Elaine Allen
the authorElaine Allen