Health Problems Caused by Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth not only have impact on your appearance and possibly your self-esteem, but yes, they do affect your dental and overall health.
Research from the American Dental Association (ADA) has shown that crooked teeth can damage your dental and overall health in at least eight ways.
Usually, the cause of crooked teeth is genetic, just like eye and hair color. Other causes may include early loss of baby teeth, severe facial injury, or poor childhood habits, such as tongue thrusting, thumb sucking and excessive pacifier use.
No matter what the cause is, crooked teeth can adversely affect your health in ways that might surprise you – stretching beyond your dental health to the rest of your body.
8 Ways Crooked Teeth Impact Your Health
1.Bad Breath. Starting with one of the least damaging problems, bad breath can be a result from crooked teeth. As bad as crooked teeth look, they can smell even worse. Unless you’ve just eaten an onion, bad breath is generally caused by lingering mouth bacteria, which can be difficult to eradicate from in between crooked teeth.
2.Causes gum disease – The bacteria that we just mentioned lead to plaque, cavities, and gum disease. Although you can maintain proper hygiene techniques even with crowded teeth, it is just more difficult. Most people eventually have problems especially as they get older, with periodontal or gum disease, when crowded teeth are left untreated.
3.Creates difficulty cleaning teeth– Toothbrush bristles and floss have a difficult time reaching the nooks and crannies between crooked teeth, which can lead to bacteria growth, calculus and plaque deposition.
4.Creates tooth wear– Crowded bottom teeth often cause one or more teeth to protrude, which can rub against your upper teeth. Over time, this can lead to undue wear of tooth enamel.
5.Increases risk of tooth injuries– Protruding upper teeth are more likely to chip or crack in the event of an accident.
6.Creates chewing difficulties– Protruding upper and lower teeth may rub together in a way that prevents normal jaw alignment, making it difficult to chew.
7.Damages self-esteem and happiness – Several studies have indicated that a better-looking smile increases the amount you smile, which can lower stress and improve cognitive ability. Having crooked teeth may reduce your confidence in your smile, thus reducing how much you show your pearly whites.
8.Decreases overall health – Few people realize that dental issues can seriously affect more than just their oral health. Studies by the ADA have proven that oral infections caused by bacteria buildup may lead to more serious ailments, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pneumonia.
A Clear Solution to Crooked Teeth
Reading this list may have convinced you to get your teeth straightened. Fortunately, a solution like Invisalign provides an easy, nearly transparent way to fix crooked teeth.
Invisalign is a technology that uses retainer-like transparent aligners to straighten your teeth and/or align your bite. You wear the aligners for at least 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating or drinking. Then, every two weeks, you put in a new set of aligners to further shift your teeth.
Most Invisalign patients love it as this technology doesn’t depend on bulky metal braces to correct their smile. In fact, most people don’t even realize a person is wearing Invisalign unless they’re told.
Moreover, Invisalign aligners are easy to remove, making it simple to brush and floss your teeth. Cosmetically, this also prevents stains from accumulating on your teeth, a common problem with metal braces.
Average Invisalign treatment lasts between 6 months and 18 months but differs widely by individual case.
Many people are surprised to find that crooked teeth can affect more than just their dental health, possibly affecting their heart and even their mind. Straightening your teeth with a solution like Invisalign can improve your health, smile and help you live a happier, healthier life.
