If you have ever smiled in the mirror to examine your teeth or noticed crookedness in your child’s teeth, there might be braces in the near future for you or your family. The process of consulting an orthodontist does not need to be stressful if you start the wheels turning in a timely manner. The first step is to understand the signs that you or your family should consider getting braces in San Antonio, TX.
1. Gaps between teeth
Gaps between teeth are usually caused by lower and upper jaws not fitting together properly, which is called malocclusion. This could be due to various reasons such as thumb sucking, genetics and oral tissues. By getting braces to close gaps in teeth, your smile will improve and reduce risks of gum disease and inflammation.
2. Difficulty chewing or speaking
If you experience frequent problems when you bite down on food, chew or speak, it’s often because of malocclusion. Orthodontic treatments can solve these kinds of problems. Braces will usually end problems that cause you to bite your cheeks or the roof of your mouth when eating or talking. They can also prevent shock to the jaws from teeth that collide unexpectedly and difficulties with word pronunciations.
3. Crowded teeth
Teeth that overlap or are tightly packed are not only an aesthetic problem, but this also leads to oral health issues. Tight spaces between teeth tend to hold onto plaque for a longer period of time because it’s more difficult for a toothbrush to dislodge food and plaque buildup in these areas. As a result, cavities, gingivitis and gum disease can develop. If it’s difficult to floss between many of your teeth, you should consider braces to correct your smile.
4. Incorrect alignment of teeth
Most people’s upper and lower teeth don’t meet correctly without strain or gnashing. When you close your mouth, your teeth should come together comfortably. Although this is the case for over 70% of people, you should not ignore this problem, especially when it leads to erosion of enamel, jaw pain or headaches. Malocclusion can also become noticeable to other people and damage your self-esteem.
5. Jaw pain
Even if you’re experiencing temporary jaw pain, this can have serious consequences. Ongoing tension from malocclusion leads to potential damage to your jaw joint or even dislocation. This can also cause grinding of teeth during sleep, which could lead to tooth loss and need for false teeth. Jaw pain makes daily tasks more difficult and causes emotional problems that can harm your social life and career.
If you or your loved ones have been suffering from any of these problems, the right time to act is now. You owe it to yourself to visit Dr. Keith Blalock, one of the Top Orthodontists in San Antonio and learn more about how braces can improve your life and prevent serious health problems in the future.
