Crooked teeth may seem like a minor aesthetic concern, especially if you're not experiencing any immediate dental issues. You may even feel too old to consider an orthodontic treatment like braces. However, overlooking crooked teeth can harm your dental health in the long run. Here are the dangers of crooked teeth:
Difficulty Properly Cleaning The Teeth
Crooked teeth can make it challenging to clean your teeth effectively. Misaligned teeth create tight spaces and overlapping areas that aren't easy to reach with a toothbrush or floss.
Plaque and food particles may therefore gather in these challenging locations, raising the danger of tooth decay, gum disease, and poor breath. Even with regular oral hygiene practices, having crooked teeth might make it difficult to maintain good oral health.
Chewing Difficulty
Crooked teeth can affect your ability to bite and chew properly. When your teeth do not align correctly, it can lead to uneven pressure distribution during chewing.
This can result in discomfort, difficulty biting into and properly breaking down food, and even jaw strain. Chewing challenges can negatively impact your nutrition and overall digestive health.
Bad Breath
Crooked teeth can contribute to bad breath. The irregular spaces and crevices between misaligned teeth can trap food particles and bacteria, increasing the risk of oral malodor. These trapped particles and bacteria can produce foul-smelling substances, causing persistent bad breath.
High Risk Of Tooth Damage
Crooked teeth are more susceptible to damage. When teeth are misaligned, they may protrude, increasing the risk of accidental trauma. Moreover, uneven pressure distribution during biting and chewing can cause excessive wear on certain teeth, leading to enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.
Headaches
Malocclusion, which refers to the misalignment of the teeth and jaws, can contribute to headaches and migraines. Crooked teeth can affect your bite alignment and strain the jaw joints. Call our dentist to learn more about the dangers of crooked teeth.