5 Common Signs You May Need Braces

It’s never easy to hear your orthodontist recommend you braces. Though you may not like your doctor at that time, he/she is actually thinking about how you can live a better life. In fact, even you can find some common signs that normally show that you need braces.

You can start off by paying attention to how you look when you smile in the mirror. You can also try to observe chewing patterns and if your teeth ever bite into your cheek or the roof of your mouth. Generally, crooked teeth are the first symptoms that you need a visit to your orthodontist, but if that’s not enough, here a few more.

Crowded teeth

This is one of the most common reasons for braces. Crowding usually happens when there’s less space for your teeth to grow into and they start huddling over each other. As a result, you get overcrowded teeth. This makes it harder to maintain dental hygiene and often results in food particles getting trapped in between your teeth, causing tooth decay, gingivitis, and bad breath.

Gaps between teeth

This health condition is also known as malocclusion. It’s caused by a number of factors such as genetics, thumb-sucking and mouth tissue formation among other reasons. It’s characterized by gaps between the upper and lower jaw and exposes both sets of teeth to plaque formation and compromising your dental health. Additionally, it also distorts your smile and messes up the aesthetics of your face. Crossbite, overbite, open bite and underbite are all symptoms of malocclusion.

Bite issues

While chewing food, if you’ve been biting into your cheeks or hitting the roof of your mouth with your teeth, it’s probably time to start wearing braces. These are generally caused by malocclusion. Since both sets of teeth are not properly aligned with each other, it causes the lower and upper sets to grind against each other and even miss time a bite. As a result, you keep biting your cheeks. The teeth set can even collide when you speak, hampering speech development.

Jaw pain

This kind of pain usually a result of misaligned teeth. If your jaws don’t fit well, it can easily slip out-of-place when you’re sleeping and cause tension in your jaws. Additionally, it can also be caused by Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw bone with the skull and facilitates the sliding mechanism. If you aren’t able to move your jaws properly and are experiencing pain, it’s best to consult an orthodontist at the soonest.

Halitosis

Does your breath smell even though you have been taking all the necessary steps to support dental hygiene? The most probable cause is food getting stuck in your mouth. Usually, this happens due to crowded or crooked teeth and leads to bacteria build up behind your teeth. In such cases, it is ideal to consult an orthodontist and ensure proper treatment.

Any kind of delays in getting looked at by your doctor can lead to tooth decay and more advanced oral diseases. In such cases, the best solution is always to opt for braces.