8 Health Problems Caused By Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth can affect your self-esteem by making you feel self-conscious and taking away all of your self-confidence. But apart from this, crooked and misaligned teeth also have several health hazards hooked on them. Read on to discover what kind of problems you can face.

Problems Caused By Crooked Teeth

1. Gum Diseases

You are more prone to gum diseases with crooked teeth since cleaning them from every corner gets difficult. Uncleaned teeth will develop plaque between them, multiplying into several harmful bacteria leading to severe gum disease.

2. Difficulty In Cleaning Teeth

Crooked teeth will give you a tough time in brushing and flossing. Maintaining proper oral care while cleaning in between the tight spaces of your teeth will be a tremendous challenge.

3. Wearing Of Enamel

If you have overcrowded teeth at the bottom, some of them may protrude and rub against your upper teeth. If your teeth constantly rub against each other, you risk wearing away the protective enamel layer, which will cause cavities and abscess teeth.

4. Chewing Problems

Often, crooked teeth result from a misaligned jaw. Because of this, your upper and lower teeth may protrude and make chewing difficult for you, and if you do not chew your food thoroughly, you might choke or have a digestion problem.

6. Increases The Risk Of Tooth Injuries

Crooked teeth create an excess strain on your jaw, jaw muscles, and your teeth. Strained jaw muscles cause pain and put excess pressure on your teeth, resulting in a chipped tooth, cracked tooth, and other teeth injuries.

6. Bad Breath Will Be Common

Since cleaning will be tough with crooked teeth, bacteria will lead to plaque buildup, developing tartar, and give you bad breath. You can, of course, battle the breath with strong mouthwash, but it is always advisable to treat the problem.

7. Lower Self-Esteem

Your smile gives you an added dose of confidence and self-esteem. People with the perfect teeth are the ones to smile more, reducing their stress and anxiety levels. With crooked teeth, you will not have the confidence to smile, negatively affecting your self-esteem.

8. Takes A Toll On Your Overall Health

A few people have reported that dental issues have harmed their overall health along with their oral health. According to the American Dental Association, oral infections caused by bacteria buildup have led to more severe ailments such as heart disease, heart stroke, diabetes, and pneumonia.

How To Straighten Your Teeth?

The decision to straighten your crooked teeth is personal. For some people, finance can be a barrier, while it might merely be a choice for others. However, if you choose to straighten your teeth, here are the options available:

1. Metal Braces

Orthodontists attach fixed metal braces to your teeth with brackets and wires to fix serious dental alignment issues. Sometimes, headgear is required; however, it is worn only at night.

Compared to the olden times, metal braces have come a long way and now use smaller brackets and less metal. They now give you more comfort and options of multicolor bands to match your personality and style.

They cost around $3,000 and $7,500 depending on where you live, the amount of work needed behind them, and whether you have an insurance plan that covers it.

2. Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces and the wires that connect them are clear or tooth-colored, making them less noticeable than metal braces.

The straightening process will be like the metal braces, but ceramic braces are more prone to staining and risk breaking away easily. They cost a bit more than the metal braces – between $3,500 and $8,000.

3. Invisalign

Invisalign is nearly invisible and is worn by teens and adults. These clear plastic aligners are custom-made to fit in your mouth. They act like a tooth guard on each of your teeth and are removable. However, you need to replace them twice every month.

Although aligners straighten your teeth, doctors do not recommend these to correct severe tooth alignment. Since they are removable, aligners take longer to correct your crooked teeth when compared to traditional braces. They cost anywhere between $3,500 and $8,500.

4. Teeth-straightening Surgery

Teeth straightening surgery is done to lessen the time needed to treat your teeth with braces.

Your orthodontist might recommend a minor surgical procedure to reposition your bones and gums and hold your teeth in position. However, if your teeth have affected your speech or chewing ability, your orthodontist will recommend a dental procedure known as orthognathic surgery designed to realign your jaw.

The cost for surgical procedures is based on the type of surgery, location, and health insurance plans.