6 Important Signs and Reasons for Getting Braces

The signs and reasons for getting clear braces are going to vary from person to person. Around four million Americans currently wear braces. Many of those people are teenagers but more and more adults are also getting orthodontic treatments.

Your dentist will likely be the first person to mention braces to you. They’ll likely send you or your child to see an orthodontist for a consultation.

While you might avoid getting braces because you don’t like the way they look, not getting orthodontic treatment could result in serious oral problems later in life. So if you’re wondering if braces are right for you or a loved one, keep on reading and we’ll walk you through everything you’ll want to know!

1. Table of Contents

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   Underbite

You might have an underbite if your lower teeth overlap the top front teeth. If this is the case, you likely have a very tough time talking or eating. This also increases your chances of sustaining an oral injury.

If you think that you have an underbite, you should consult with your orthodontist about getting braces.

2. Overbite

If you have a pronounced overbite, then that means that your bottom teeth bite into the roof of your mouth. They might also disappear when you bite. If this condition does not get treated, then a pronounced overbite can lead to damage to your front teeth and damage to your gum tissue.

No matter what age the patient is, an orthodontist can improve his or her oral health by correcting their overbite. However, it’s easier to correct an overbite in children because their jaws are still growing.

3. Open Bite

Do you notice a big gap between your lower and upper teeth when you smile? If you do, then you might have an open bite.

If you have an open bite, you probably have a hard time speaking and eating properly. You might also develop embarrassing habits, such as thrusting your tongue.

Ceramic and metal braces can be effective solutions for an open bite.

Many young people these days are embarrassed by braces. If that’s the case for your child, then you may want to consider Invisalign for teens.

4. Spacing

If you have wide gaps due to teeth that are irregularly spaced, then you should consider getting braces. You might be experiencing this issue because your teeth are relatively small compared to the rest of your mouth. You also might have some teeth missing.

It might simply seem like an aesthetic concern to close the wide gaps in your mouth. However, this is also necessary to protect your oral health.

If your teeth are too far apart from each other, then pieces of food can get stuck and collect in your gums. This can lead to cavities, bad breath, and other oral problems.

5. Crowding

One of the most common reasons why people get braces is because of crowding. You might have a crowding issue on your hands if it seems like there is not enough room in your mouth for all of your teeth. This can lead your teeth to overlap with one another.

You can end up with crowding if your dental arch is too small for your adult teeth. It can also take place if your adult teeth are bigger than normal.

If you retain your baby teeth for too long or lose them prematurely, you might also develop crowded teeth. These factors can inhibit the formation of adult teeth and force them to grow or erupt into an improper position.

Crowding makes it hard to floss and brush properly and can lead to gingivitis and tooth decay.

Fixing crowded teeth can help ensure that you don’t develop cavities. With crowded teeth. the bristles of your toothbrush won’t be able to reach certain crevices and dental plaque will sure develop. Straightening your teeth with braces will stop this from being a concern for you.

6. TMJ

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. This is a joint that you have on each side of the jaw. It is what attaches the bottom of your skull to the jaw bone.

The muscles near the joints open and close the mouth. If this joint gets out of line, you can end up with TMJ disorder, which causes a lot of pain.

Some of the common symptoms of TMJ are:

• Change in how your teeth fit together
• Stiff muscles in your jaw
• Pain in your face or neck
• Pain when you chew
• Earaches
• Pain in one or both jaw joints

One of the most effective and popular treatments for TMJ is braces. If your TMJ is caused by problems with your bite, then aligning your teeth and jaw with braces might be the solution you need.

Braces can also help you if your TMJ is caused by jaw clenching or teeth grinding. Even if your teeth are straight, you might still have issues with jaw alignment.

Because braces can’t fix every TMJ issue, it’s important that you talk it over with your dentist.

The Importance of Knowing the Different Signs and Reasons for Getting Braces

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better understanding of the different signs and reasons for getting braces. It’s always a good idea to talk to your dentist or orthodontist if you’re experiencing dental issues and think that braces can help. And the sooner you take care of it, the easier and quicker the treatment will be.

Are you looking for other helpful health articles like this one? If you are, then make sure to check out the rest of our site today for even more!