A correctly aligned jaw and straight teeth are essential for more than simple aesthetics. When your bite is misaligned, it can cause all sorts of problems. You can develop a clicking in your jaw, put undue strain on your joints, muscles, and nerves, and impede your ability to chew, talk, and even swallow correctly. It also affects the health of your teeth, by causing undue wear and tear. If you have bite issues, it is certainly worth getting checked out by an orthodontist. Depending on your issues, they may recommend the following treatments.
Repair Jaw Damage
If your bite issues are the result of a jaw fracture, you will most likely need surgery. The 8 weeks following your surgery won’t be fun, but it is worth it to ensure that your mouth heals properly. After surgery, your jaw will most likely be wired in place to prevent you from moving it and inhibiting the healing process. During this time, you will be on a liquid diet. You can enjoy creamy soups, warming broths, delicious shakes, and yummy smoothies to your heart’s content. And before you know it, you will be healed up and more excited to crunch on chips than you have ever been before!
Get Braces
Thankfully, most bite issues can be solved with braces. Braces have evolved quite a bit over the years. They are no longer the massive, bulky chunks of wire that they used to be. The brackets are smaller, and most orthodontists place them a bit closer to the gumline than before, making them much less noticeable. And you will be in good company. Not only do most kids wear braces at some point, but more and more adults are getting them too. If wires just aren’t your thing, you might prefer Invisalign. These clear aligners are virtually invisible. Additionally, Invisalign lets you enjoy more foods that you couldn’t with traditional braces.
Reshape Teeth
For minor bite issues where the teeth are basically aligned but still making unwanted contact with the neighbors, your dentist might be able to simply reshape them. Your dentist will use a dental drill to gently grind down the areas that are protruding more than they should. The end result will be a smile that looks much the same but without the constant friction.
It is never too late to correct your bite issues, and doing so is always worth it. You shouldn’t have to endure the pain, discomfort, or tooth erosion that a misaligned bite can cause. If you have any concerns about your bite, see your dentist or orthodontist right away!
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