What is crooked teeth

In Japan, slightly crooked canine teeth yaeba are a desired attribute thought to enhance attractiveness, especially in women. Braces are a great option for people of any age, provided that their teeth and gums are strong enough to hold them. Braces may be an especially good choice for children, who still have malleable, flexible gums and bone tissues.

Treatment can take anywhere between two to three years depending on the type of braces you choose, and what you need to have done. Teeth-straightening surgery is another option to consider, and typically takes less time to achieve desired results. Read on to learn about the different types of braces you can choose from, as well as surgical options.

Fixed metal braces are attached to the teeth with brackets, bands, and flexible wire. These braces may be a better choice for someone with more complex dental alignment issues.

Sometimes, headgear is required in addition to fixed braces. Headgear is typically only worn at night. Metal braces have come a long way since their early days. They now use smaller brackets and less metal. They even come with multicolored rubber bands that you can choose to match your personality. The straightening process is the same as metal brackets, although ceramic brackets are prone to staining and break easily.

Invisible braces , such as Invisalign, are nearly invisible. The clear plastic aligners are custom-made to fit your mouth.

They fit over each tooth like a mouth guard, and are removed and replaced twice monthly. Invisible braces may also take longer to straighten teeth than traditional braces. Many providers of this treatment allow for monthly payment plan options. The Invisalign product is also eligible to be purchased with tax-free health-savings account dollars.

The lingual surface is the side of your teeth that faces your tongue. Lingual braces are another form of invisible braces. These types of braces may take longer to work, and be harder to get used to wearing. Time can also take its toll on the position of your teeth. As we age our teeth can have an unfortunate tendency to drift forward and become more crowded. Contrary to popular belief your wisdom teeth are not to blame. The real cause is your jaw bone, which looses density over the years and changes shape, encouraging teeth to crowd towards the front of your mouth.

If you suffer an injury to your face the force could cause your teeth to move and become misaligned. A trauma could also affect the position of your jaw or damage your gums, which in turn could cause your teeth to shift.

To reduce the risk of a trauma to your teeth, dentists advise patients to wear a gumshield during contact sports such as hockey and rugby. Amongst orthodontic patients, the biggest cause of reoccurring crowding or orthodontic relapse is undoubtedly the absence of retainers. Having crooked teeth may seem primarily like a cosmetic problem, but in reality, whether they are caused by genetics or by our own actions, teeth that are not properly aligned can cause a myriad of problems.

For example, the jaw is designed to have teeth that, when the jaw is closed, align against each other fairly well. This aids chewing, keeps teeth healthy, and encourages proper dental health. Because crowded teeth can catch and hide particles of food, they are more likely to get cavities and eventually, decay and cause further problems with the gums. They can even make it difficult to chew food properly or cause you to break a tooth.

Crooked teeth can affect the health of your teeth, how your jaw works and can even affect your posture and balance. Some symptoms that may be present include:. Often you will seek orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth and enhance your smile. However other reasons include the teeth becoming difficult to clean and keep healthy. A crowed mouth can contribute to oral conditions causing tooth decay, and gum disease. The bristles of the toothbrush and floss do not reach the areas between crooked teeth.

The bacteria in these areas survives the cleaning process and thrives in the environment making it conducive for itself and thus causing a lot of dental complications. It causes wear and tear of tooth: The misaligned teeth can make one or more teeth to rub against your other teeth while you eat or chew your food.

It increases susceptibility to tooth injuries: Crooked or protruding teeth are more likely to chip, crack or fracture in event of an accident. Normal jaw actions while eating or a traumatic impact can make the teeth susceptible to injury.

It causes difficulty in chewing: Protruding upper and lower teeth may hamper the normal jaw alignment thus making it difficult to chew. The teeth may rub against each other that can lead to problems related to inadequate digestion and poor absorption of nutrients.

It causes bad breath: Bad breath is due to the bacteria which lingers on in the cracks between crooked teeth. Depending on your specific case, the dentist may recommend one of the treatment options above or refer you to an orthodontist for more complicated cases. If you are tired of hiding your smile, call Golden State Dentistry at to schedule a consultation.

We offer financing through CareCredit. Tags: periodontal disease cosmetic dentistry TMJ dental health Invisalign crooked teeth. Crooked Teeth: Causes, Risks, and Treatment. Crooked teeth may effect not just your appearance, but also the quality of your life. Crowded, twisted or overlapped teeth may interfere with your chewing ability, can cause extensive wear to your teeth, and can be hard to clean.

This can lead to tooth decay, cracked teeth, chronic headaches, and other health problems.