Orthodontic Braces: How To Know If You Need One?
While we all love to have the picture perfect kind of sparkling smile, many of us take our oral health too lightly or until we are faced with some serious problems. Orthodontic problems do not only affect your smile, confidence and self-esteem, but also cause various real oral health issues.
This is why regular visits to your family dentist are recommended. If detected at early stage i.e. during childhood when permanent teeth start emerging, orthodontic problems can be much easily because the child’s mouth is still in the growing phase and the tissues can be much more malleable than an adult.
Many of the orthodontic problems call for orthodontic braces. For majority of people, the most dreadful thing to hear from a dentist is being told that they need braces. Many of the teens, in particular, refuse to wear dental braces, as they are alternatively known as, because it affects their physical appearance.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep an eye upon your child’s teeth, since the toddler age until he/she has fully developed permanent teeth, and to address any and all problems there and then to avoid any drama later on.
However, if you have ignored your child’s or your own oral health for long; all is not over. There is no age limit for dental braces. It is a corrective treatment to avoid or to get rid of numerous oral issues.
How to Know If You Need Orthodontic Braces?
While the best way to determine if you need dental braces is to visit a dentist, there are few signs that help you identify on your own that you need the orthodontic treatment.
Important: Make sure to always go to a dentist who is AAID accredited, such as the Bischoff Family Dentistry, as it speaks volume about his/her credibility and expertise.
1. Gaps between Teeth
Malocclusion is a medical condition due to which your jaws do not fit together as they should. Gap between teeth is often the cause of this problem. Also, the gaps put the gum tissue at increased risk of plaque buildup and several other gum issues, such as infections and inflammation. This is because the tissue is exposed to bacteria.
People can have gaps between teeth naturally and they may also be a result of genetics, using pacifiers or thumb sucking during childhood.
2. Crowding Of Teeth
Overcrowded teeth are the most obvious of all signs that hint towards the need for getting dental braces. Not only it makes cleaning much difficult, it also makes proper cleaning less likely. Food particles easily get trapped between the overcrowded teeth which cannot be removed by regular cleaning methods. Hence, puts an individual at the high risk of plaque buildup, and developing periodontal disease, tooth decay, gum issues, bad breath and even bone loss around the teeth.
3. Abnormal Bite
Having an abnormal or incorrect bite means a condition in which your upper and lower teeth do not meet and interact the way they should. Incorrect bite is a widespread problem, but majority of the people tend to ignore it. However, if not treated, it can lead to tooth injury, problems in speech development, chronic headaches, issues with your jaw (such as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) and tooth wear.
