If you have crooked teeth, then you are already aware of some of the difficulties they present on a daily basis. Struggling to clean between them is often the biggest challenge. Below are issues you may experience if your teeth remain crooked, damaged or misaligned.
Risk Of Decay
When teeth are out of alignment or tightly crowded together, it is very difficult to thoroughly clean away all food particles. Unfortunately, this means that the bacteria left behind greatly increases your risk of tooth decay.
Gum Disease
As plaque continues to build up between teeth that are crooked, you become increasingly vulnerable to gingivitis. Gum disease, as it is commonly called, seems harmless at first, and this causes many people to miss or disregard these early warning signs. Specifically, you might have bleeding gums, or gums that are bright red in color instead of a healthy shade of pink.
If allowed to progress, this infection becomes a more serious problem known as periodontal disease. This can have some serious outcomes, including:
- Persistent bad breath
- Bright red, swollen and tender gums
- Painful chewing
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums
TMJ Disorder
Problems begin to develop when the body subconsciously tries to force your teeth back into alignment again through bruxism, or teeth grinding. Over time, repetitive behavior that places ongoing extra pressure on your joints can result in a host of new physical problems, most notably a jaw joint disorder called TMJ. Here are a few commonly seen symptoms:
- Popping, clicking jaw joints
- Severe, chronic headaches
- Ringing in the ears
- Facial muscle spasms
- Dizziness
- Neck and back pain
Consultation
If you would like to learn more about how crooked teeth can impact your oral health and what treatment options might be best for you, book a consultation with Maple Avenue Family Dentistry today at 401-237-4324.
