There are several important reasons as to why crooked teeth may be a problem. Teeth that are not aligned properly in your mouth create what is known as “malocclusion.” If this is left untreated, malocclusion can lead to periodontal disease and create abnormal amounts of stress on teeth and jaws, which leads to premature wear. Some potential issues caused by malocclusion include crowding, spacing, deep bite, cross bite, excessive overjet, edge-to-edge bite, and open bite. These types of malocclusion can lead to numerous problems including but not limited to buildup of plaque and tartar, harboring of harmful periodontal bacteria, food lodging between teeth, risk of sore, tender gums, premature wear and chipping of the lower teeth, abfraction lesions (small notches in tooth at the gumline), fractured front teeth, trauma to front teeth, jaw joint pain, gum recession, loose teeth and eventually periodontal disease, tooth loss and bone loss.
Research has also shown that periodontal disease may increase the risk for several types of systemic disease and therefore malocclusion is a potential health risk. In short, straight teeth are healthier teeth!
Properly aligned teeth can help you avoid the negative effects of periodontal disease. Easier to brush and floss than crowded or crooked teeth, straight, aligned teeth allow for improved oral hygiene. This reduces the chance of plaque retention, tooth decay and periodontal disease. In addition, properly aligned teeth reduce the risk of expensive procedures required to repair the effects of abnormal force, such as tooth chipping, breaking, or wear.
Of course, a beautiful, esthetic smile is an added benefit of straight teeth!
Ask Dr. Sayeed about straightening your teeth using Invisalign®, a set of clear aligners that are custom-made to gradually straighten your teeth.