Teeth alignment problems, also known as malocclusion, are often perceived like rather benign aesthetic defects.
Yet, in addition to the many benefits linked to mental well-being that a simple cosmetic correction of malocclusion can bring, it is also important to emphasize the serious consequences that poor teeth alignment can have on your health.
At the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville, we are there to help you keep your smile and better understand your teeth.
Bruxism: An Important Consequence of Teeth Misalignment
The term “bruxism” is used to refer to the clenching or grinding of teeth without any functional purpose. Misaligned teeth can contribute to the onset of bruxism in patients.
Indeed, misalignment can lead to unnecessary friction between your upper and lower teeth during the everyday movements of your mouth.
The discomfort sometimes caused by malocclusion also lead to unnecessary jaw movements while the patient is trying to find a comfortable position.
These movements, whether voluntary or involuntary, can lead to serious consequences for your oral health, like:
- Accelerated tooth wear, which lead to teeth becoming short and sharp
- Teeth fracture
- Cracked crown or filling
On the long term, bruxism can even have negative effects on your general health, since your jaw is an integral part of your face. Consequently, we also link bruxism to the following problems:
- Chronic headaches or earaches
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
- Permanent damage to the jaw, etc.
Though teeth misalignment is not the sole possible cause of bruxism, it is important to do everything you can to avoid these problems, and prevention starts with teeth that allow your mouth to move well and to close properly.
Digestive Disorders: The Importance of Chewing
Chewing is an integral part of the long digestion process. In fact, bad food chewing can lead to several digestive problems, and your stomach has to work twice as hard to accomplish the tasks that your mouth should normally have completed in the first stage in the digestion process.
Of course, malocclusion can lead to chewing problems, since your teeth are not positioned in an effective way for cutting and grinding down food.
In the short term, as digestion is an integral part of your body’s proper functioning, the digestive problems caused by poor teeth alignment has consequences for your daily well-being.
In the long term, digestive problems are dangerous for your general health, since your body will find it difficult to use the nutrients you are consuming.
Back Problems and Sleep Disorders: Surprising Consequences
It might be difficult to believe, but misaligned teeth can also be detrimental to your sleep or lead to neck and back pain.
In fact, people who suffer from teeth misalignment often have to adopt a strained position with their lower jaw to be more comfortable in their daily life.
This effort is not necessarily conscious: It’s possible that your body unconsciously does this, because it has developed this habit to mitigate the feeling of discomfort that occurs when your mouth is in a relaxed position.
On the long term, this position causes an overload on your jaw joints, but also on the surrounding muscles and joints. Concretely, this translates to:
- Chronic headaches
- Neck or back pain
- Increased risks of sleep apnea, etc.
Do not underestimate the importance of your jaw in the proper functioning of your body. If you suffer from chronic pain in that area, do not hesitate to come and see us now.
Orthodontics: There Is a Solution for You!
Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty largely dedicated to the correction of teeth misalignment and jaw problems.
Good oral health starts with a jaw that is able to rest in a proper position around aligned teeth.
Whether for a treatment with metal, lingual or transparent Invisalign braces, or for any other of the various recognized treatments, there is a solution for each misalignment problem.
If you are suffering from malocclusion or have any questions about your oral health and how to maintain it, our experts at Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville are there for you. Your dentists on the South Shore are waiting for you!