10 Signs You May Need Braces

10 Signs You May Need Braces: Many people – teens and adults alike – have crooked, misaligned teeth that require some sort of corrective procedure. Braces are a common treatment for misaligned teeth. They exert constant pressure on your jaws, forcing the teeth into shape.

The result is a brighter, more confident smile. Youngsters often shy away from braces because of how they look. But it may surprise you to know that almost 80% of teenagers wear braces in their lives.

But, How exactly do braces improve your dental health? Let’s find out!

When should you consider braces?

Dentists believe every seven-year-old child should be taken to an orthodontic examination to determine if the child should wear braces. However, many parents don’t do this. No wonder a 1998 survey shows that one-third of adults don’t have aligned teeth. That’s why you should consider visiting a dentist here or an orthodontist near to you if you’re suffering from any of the problems mentioned below. Therefore, read the following signs carefully to know if you need braces.

Dental Crowding

Dental crowding is a common issue that is addressed through braces. It happens when teeth start competing for places in the mouth because they’ve grown improperly. This leads to teeth becoming twisted and misaligned. Crowding makes brushing and flossing difficult, so braces are necessary to correct this condition. If you live in Clovis or Fresno and have this issue, get in touch with a reputable orthodontist as soon as possible. You can easily find Orthodontic Services in Clovis, CA, through a quick Google search.
Difficulty in biting

Are you having difficulties biting/chewing your food? You might need braces to have this issue fixed. It’s because these problems arise from your teeth not being aligned properly. Dental health experts believe four dental conditions cause you to have difficulty chewing your food, i.e., an overbite, an underbite, a crossbite, or an openbite. This article shall discuss most of these problems below to help you regain your smile.
Having crooked teeth

Crooked or misaligned teeth not only affect your smile but can cause issues such as irregular bite and chewing difficulties. People need braces to overcome this problem and correct their crooked teeth. Putting braces can resolve this dental issue so you may eat comfortably and smile confidently.
Pain and Discomfort

When chewing, dental misalignment can cause your teeth to constantly come into contact with your cheeks, palate, and tongue. This can result in injuries. Sometimes, your lower teeth start to press against the upper part of your mouth, causing discomfort. Braces are needed to remove this impasse and recover your health.
Losing baby teeth

Normally, children start losing their baby teeth at 6. Baby teeth loosen and fall out, making space for new, permanent teeth. However, losing a tooth prematurely can cause several complications. It’s because the replacement tooth can get crooked or may start to crowd against other teeth. If your child has lost their baby teeth at the age of 4, then it’s something worth an orthodontist’s attention.
Having an openbite

What do we mean by openbite? Openbiting happens when your upper and lower teeth aren’t aligned with each other properly. Now, everyone has upper teeth protruding slightly beyond their lower teeth. It becomes a problem when this upper-lower-teeth overlap becomes significant. Similarly, there’s an opposite condition called underbite, in which the lower teeth protrude. In an open bite, you have upper and lower teeth not making contact.

These two conditions don’t just affect your appearance but also lead to several oral health problems normally. With an overbite, the chances of fracturing your upper teeth increase. An underbite accelerates facial aging. However, you may have both these issues corrected by wearing braces.
Excessive tooth gaps

This condition is the opposite of dental crowding, as your teeth are now spaced out excessively. This space usually emerges when you lose a tooth. So, braces can overcome this problem. They will adjust your teeth and help you eat food healthily.
Having speech issues

Speech issues aren’t as common as you imagine. Statistics from Fresno (California) state that around 3-5 percent of school-going children stutter. Now, a stutter isn’t always caused by dental reasons. A child may have fluency issues because of many other reasons. However, crooked/non-aligned teeth are one of these possible reasons. So, you should visit an orthodontist to have your kid examined to find out if the stutter is caused by waning dental health. Braces may fix it and remove the stutter.
Incorrect jaw position

Do you think your jaw is positioned incorrectly? This uncomfortable condition, if verified by experts, can be fixed with braces. The telltale sign of a shifting jaw is that it makes a sound when you move it and is generally caused by a developmental issue. So, you can visit a nearby orthodontist to get this problem fixed.

Conclusion

In short, you have learned that wearing braces has become commonplace, and sometimes it’s necessary for your long-term dental health. So, what are some reasons you may need braces? These reasons include crooked, crowded, or non-aligned teeth. Your teeth can have a lot of gaps between them. They may be overbiting, underbiting, openbiting, or even crossbiting. Sometimes, your teeth harm your cheek and tongue because of the misalignment. When you have difficulty biting/chewing your food, it may be a sign that you should consider braces. Losing your baby teeth early also means you should wear braces. If your jaw is positioned incorrectly, then wearing braces now will have a lasting impact.