What Having Crooked Teeth Means for Your Oral Health

When teeth are crooked, the most noticeable impact of their misalignment is often the way it makes your smile look. An uneven, asymmetrical set of teeth can make your smile seem less healthy and attractive, which is one of the main reasons why some people seek orthodontic treatment to straighten theirs. However, when teeth aren’t aligned properly, there’s a lot more at stake than just your smile’s appearance. Having crooked teeth can mean many things for your oral health, and each of which can grow increasingly worse until you seek orthodontic treatment to straighten them.

The impact on your daily hygiene routine

Besides processing your foods, your teeth are responsible for many things. To keep them healthy enough to function properly and remain strong, the most important thing you can do is keep them consistently clean by brushing and flossing them every day. However, if your teeth are crooked, then oral bacteria and plaque might not be so easy to clean off. Crooked teeth create spaces between them that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach, but oral bacteria and food particles can. In these spots, the plaque that develops will quickly calcify into tartar, and before long, the bacteria can lead to problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and more.

The effects on your bite balance and function

Good hygiene keeps your teeth clean and free of disease, but if they’re crooked, even thorough cleaning can’t prevent the impact they’ll have on your bite balance and function. To properly bite and chew your food so many times throughout the day, your teeth and their supportive structures must interact closely together. This requires balance, and if your teeth aren’t even, they can throw your bite’s balance completely off. This can lead to a host of issues and concerns, including diminished, uncomfortable bite function and the development of a jaw disorder (TMJ disorder).

Your risks of further dental problems

The extent to which your crooked teeth impact your oral health and bite function depend largely on two things; the severity of your tooth misalignment, and the time it takes you to seek treatment to correct it. The longer you wait, the greater your risks will be of developing more problems with your oral health and requiring further treatment to restore your healthy smile. To help you avoid this, we advise straightening crooked teeth as soon as possible with the right customized orthodontic treatment.

Learn how we can correct your crooked teeth

Crooked teeth can impact a lot more than just your smile’s appearance, which is why straightening them can benefit your oral health in more ways than you might realize. To learn more, or to schedule your appointment, call Healthy Smiles in Gary, IN, today at 219-938-2637.