The most common orthodontic problem is called malocclusion, or ‘bad bite’, and is often times a genetic problem. A bad bite can also be caused by thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents or poor nutrition. Malocclusion, if untreated, leads to various other health issues and dental problems. Here are some benefits of treating malocclusion with Invisalign that you probably didn’t know about!
Avoid Gum Disease (Periodontitis) and other Health Problems:
If your teeth are not straight, they are more likely to build up plaque and tartar deposits. Why? If your teeth are crowded or have open spaces between them, they act as food traps. These food deposits then give nutrition to the naturally occurring bacteria in our mouths, thus forming plaque and tartar and leads to gum disease. Gum disease is a constant infection underneath your gums, which dissolves the bone in which your teeth are housed. So the more bone you lose, the higher risk of losing your teeth. And untreated gum disease is linked to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and angular glaucoma.
Avoid Extra Dental Treatment like Crowns & Root Canals & Extractions:
When your teeth are straight, and they hit each other while you chew, the forces go directly down the straight axis of the root and cause no problems. However, if they are rotated, pushed out or crowded, then your teeth are hitting in the wrong place, and the forces of chewing aren’t absorbed down the root. Instead, your teeth hit in pinpoint areas that they aren’t meant to hit, and this causes you to wear away and fracture the enamel off of your teeth. Then you’re looking at crowns, possible root canal treatments or even tooth loss requiring extractions that you wouldn’t have needed if your teeth were properly aligned.
You Can Eat Anything You Want Again:
Do you have an open bite and can’t bite properly into a sandwich? Are you afraid to order the steak when you’re on a date because it’s difficult to eat since your teeth don’t come together in the back of your mouth? Do you avoid hard and crunchy foods like nuts? If the answer is yes, then aligning your teeth will open up a whole new world of culinary options for you! Order and eat to your heart’s content whatever you want once your teeth are properly aligned again!
Avoid Oral Cancer:
If you are constantly wounding the inside of your cheek(s) or lip(s) because you “accidentally” bit into it again, you must realize that it’s NO “accident”. It is because your bite is off and you have what’s called a cross-bite, where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. It is considered malocclusion because your bite is out of whack. In healthy, properly aligned teeth, it is the upper teeth that overlap the lower teeth (not the other way around). Constant long-term trauma like that is a risk factor for oral cancer. So if you straighten your teeth, your risk for oral cancer will decrease.
Worry Less, Smile More & Take Better Selfies:
If you’ve got an overbite, an open bite, gap between your front teeth, buck teeth or crowded teeth, then you’re probably hiding your smile without even realizing it. By aligning your teeth, it naturally boost your self-confidence. You’ll want to show off your new, gorgeous smile to the entire world!
Hope this information was helpful! If you’ve read this, and said, “Wow…that’s exactly my situation!” Then feel free to give us call and set-up a consultation to find out how Invisalign can benefit you.
Toot-a-loo,
Dr. Meli