Need a Reason to Get Braces? Common Problems They Can Help Fix
The main reason to get braces is to straighten misaligned teeth. However, there are many other dental issues braces can fix. Learn the most common.
Did you know that the mere act of smiling can make you happier? Smiling when we are happy creates a positive feedback loop in our brains. This means that the brain associates the act of smiling with the release of endorphins otherwise known as “the happy chemicals.”
This effect is so strong that even when you smile without reason, these endorphins are released, making you feel happier. Smiling is also contagious, so faking a smile can make the people around you smile, further prompting you to smile.
Cool, right?
Now, what if you have a reason to get braces? Do you deliberately try not to smile because you don’t like how it looks? Stop hiding your smile. Find out how easy it is to fix these common problems with braces. They can do so much more than simply straighten crooked teeth.
1. An Overbite or Underbite
Does the top part of your jaw stick out too far? Or perhaps the bottom part of your jaw? The first problem is called an overbite, the second is an underbite. Either can range from mildly annoying to drastically affecting your features, the health of your teeth, and even your ability to chew properly.
Braces can address this problem by using gentle pressure on the teeth and jaw to push them into a better position.
2. An Open Bite
Thumbsucking is great when a baby is young and needs to soothe themselves to sleep. It becomes a problem if they continue to do it as they age.
Thumbsucking, or excessive pacifier use, can cause an open space between the upper and lower front teeth. Most kids will grow out of this problem once their baby teeth fall out.
However, there are a few whose permanent teeth are also affected. Orthodontists can use braces to treat this problem easily.
3. A Cross Bite
When a properly aligned jaw and teeth are at rest, the upper teeth rest on top of and in front of the bottom teeth. A crossbite occurs with the opposite happens and your bottom teeth are in front of your upper teeth.
Not only does this leave you looking like a boxer, it isn’t particularly good for your oral health. Again, braces can use gentle pressure to bring your teeth and jaw back into proper alignment.
4. Speech Problems
Whistling while you work may be the sign of a cheerful worker, but whistling while you talk isn’t quite so cheery.
Misaligned teeth can disrupt your ability to speak. They can cause you to whistle when making certain sounds or even to talk with a lisp. Minor problems may not be disruptive, but difficulty communicating can affect every area of your life.
Braces can position your teeth better so that you can speak more clearly. You’ll feel your confidence skyrocket. Not only is your smile so much more beautiful but now you don’t sound like the beaver from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp when you speak.
5. Crowded Teeth
Perhaps your teeth aren’t necessarily crooked, but they seem crammed in your mouth without enough space. Some teeth may even be overlapping and with time the teeth may twist sideways looking for space.
Crowded teeth are a serious issue that can lead to health problems further on. It is much more difficult to properly brush and floss when your teeth are too close together.
Using braces sooner rather than later is recommended in this case. Waiting too long can cause you to end up needing more extensive orthodontic treatment.
6. Gum Disease
Whether twisted, crooked, or overcrowded, poorly aligned teeth can contribute to the development of gum disease. As we just noted, it is more difficult to properly care for teeth when there isn’t appropriate space between them.
Proactively getting braces can treat gum disease before it gets to be a problem. If you’re already developing it, consult an expert like this orthodontic specialist to determine the best course of action. Regardless, you’ll probably need braces to keep gum disease at bay.
7. Big Spaces
Large spaces between your teeth are also a problem. You might think it would be easier to keep your teeth clean with all that space. But the extra space also allows for food and plaque to build up.
Thus, gaps between your teeth can cause lead to cavities and gum disease just as easily as crowded teeth.
If the gaps are large enough, it can also leave your gums vulnerable to injury when you eat crunchy or hard foods. Injured gums can also lead to other oral health problems.
8. Misaligned Midlines
Dental midlines refer to how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Properly aligned midlines allow the teeth to touch evenly and comfortably. Misalignment can lead to many of the same issues that we’ve already discussed.
Braces can bring your teeth back into the proper position for a natural and comfortable bite.
The Best Reason to Get Braces
We’ve talked about various dental issues that might give you a reason to get braces. But we haven’t yet talked about arguably the most important one.
Your self-confidence.
Dental problems can affect your health, that’s true. But if you’re ashamed of your smile, that affects everything.
You might not openly think this, but without the confidence of a beautiful smile, you might not apply for the job that you really want. Even if you do apply, you might not get it because you didn’t dazzle the interviewer with your smile and personality.
This applies to everything from dating to making big decisions. If that isn’t a good reason to get braces, we don’t know what is!
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