Regardless of your age, at some point, you may encounter uncomfortable dental and oral health issues that indicate you might need braces.
While no one wants to learn that they need to wear braces for any reason, correcting your tooth alignment could be the solution when it comes to resolving your discomfort and moving forward in life with less pain and greater confidence.
If you’ve been wondering if braces could be the solution to your dental problems, here are the 8 most common signs it’s time to consider alignment treatments.
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Your Teeth Are Crowded
Crowded teeth aren’t just a cosmetic concern: they can cause serious, painful oral health problems that get worse the longer you wait to seek treatment.
Why?
Crooked and crowded teeth can worsen over time, potentially leading to a misaligned jaw joint (TMJ). Jaw problems make daily activities like eating, speaking, and sleeping uncomfortable or even painful for many people.
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You have Trouble Brushing and Flossing Effectively
It’s more challenging to clear away plaque from teeth that are too close together. That causes the buildup of harmful bacteria that could lead to tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease.
If you’re having difficulty brushing and flossing your teeth effectively or experiencing pain during your daily oral health care routine, it may be time to speak with your dentist or an orthodontist about alignment options.
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Your Teeth Are Sensitive
When your teeth are crowded together, it can wear down the layer of enamel that protects from sources of sensitivity, such as hot and cold beverages, sweets, and tangy foods (like citrus).
In some cases, you can protect your enamel with a few changes to your oral health care routine. But if crooked teeth are the cause of your enamel erosion, the only way to prevent worsening tooth sensitivity is to correct the misalignment.
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You Have Difficulty Speaking
If you haven’t sought treatment for a severe case, you might have noticed that your crooked teeth have impacted your speech.
Sometimes, your teeth are the cause of a lisp or jaw problem that makes it difficult and painful to speak. Correcting the alignment of your teeth may be the solution.
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Chewing is Uncomfortable
One of the most common signs it’s time for braces is that your crowded teeth, a misaligned bite, or jaw problems make it difficult to chew or drink fluids.
Whether it’s a stiff or painful jaw joint, tooth pain, you frequently bite your cheek or experience sores where protruding teeth rub against the inside of your mouth, trouble eating and drinking is always a cause for concern.
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Your Bite Isn’t Aligned
Do you have an overbite, underbite, or misaligned bite? Perhaps it impacts your ability to close your mouth entirely or just presents a cosmetic concern right now. So should you be worried?
Maybe: a misaligned bite pattern may not cause much pain or discomfort right now, but it may lead to severe issues with your jaw if you don’t seek the right alignment treatments as soon as possible.
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Your Jaw Hurts
Regardless of whether or not your teeth are noticeably crooked, jaw pain could indicate that you need to seek alignment treatments like braces (particularly if you’ve already tried custom mouth guards and night guards).
Why?
Braces aren’t just for correcting visibly crowded or crooked teeth: they can also help fix problems like an overbite, underbite, or misaligned bite that may be the source of jaw pain.
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You Have Gaps Between Your Teeth
Having significant gaps between your teeth may or may not cause discomfort. Some people even have a gap between their top front teeth called a diastema, and they like the way it looks.
Certain small gaps between your teeth aren’t usually a major cause of concern as long as you keep up with your oral hygiene to prevent harmful bacteria from building up.
That said, it’s essential to check in with your dentist frequently to be sure the gaps between your teeth won’t cause oral health problems that are best prevented with braces.
Conclusion
While it may not be appealing to get braces, understanding the signs that you might need them and seeking treatment as soon as possible is the best way to avoid more severe long-term dental problems.
This information is only intended to help you understand some of the symptoms that indicate whether you might need braces and isn’t a replacement for professional medical advice.
If you’re wondering, “Do I need braces?” Make an appointment with your dentist today. Be well!
