Straight Teeth Are Healthy Teeth: Why Alignment Matters

Having straight teeth gives you a great smile, but it also keeps your mouth healthy. Misaligned teeth can lead to several different health problems and make simple things, like chewing, more difficult. 

Since straight teeth can help prevent certain dental complications, it’s important to correct them. Dr. Hannah Baek of Healthy Smile Dental specializes in straightening teeth. In this post, we explain why properly aligned teeth matter.

Causes of misaligned teeth

You can get crooked, misaligned teeth from several things. In many cases, it starts with your baby teeth.

Baby teeth can become crooked from prolonged bottle usage or thumb sucking. If a baby tooth falls out too early, the permanent tooth can grow in crooked. 

Another cause is malocclusion, known as underbites or overbites. They can occur from habits like thumb sucking.

Complications of misaligned teeth

Good oral hygiene is the key to keeping your teeth healthy. But misaligned teeth make cleaning much harder. When you don’t properly clean your teeth, your risk for tooth decay and gum disease increases. 

When bacteria remain on your gums, they can break down gum tissue. As this happens, the bones that anchor your teeth in place start to weaken too. This is a serious condition known as periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is a type of gum disease that damages your gum tissue and jawbones. It can lead to permanent tooth loss. 

Other common problems of misaligned teeth are difficulty chewing and speech problems. While chewing problems can further harm your teeth and gums, they can also cause digestion problems.

Misalignment and tooth damage

Misaligned teeth put more strain and wear on your teeth, bones, and muscles. While they commonly cause tooth damage, other problems can occur, such as:

• Cracked teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Gum tissue damage

Shifting teeth can cause under or overbites. They put even more stress on your teeth. Weak or already damaged teeth experience more wear and tear, leading to tooth loss.

How you can get straight teeth

If your misaligned teeth are interfering with your quality of life, it’s time to contact Healthy Smile Dental and visit Dr. Baek. She’s an expert when it comes to tooth alignment. 

She can help you get straighter teeth with Invisalign®. They’re clear, removable trays, and a great alternative to metal braces as they offer more comfort.

To learn more about teeth straightening and alignment issues, use our online booking tool or give us a call to schedule an appointment with Healthy Smile Dental, located in Woodridge, Illinois.