Tooth alignment increases the risk of cavities and periodontal disease

If your teeth are misaligned, the following may be a problem:

Misaligned teeth (malocclusion) not only reduces the aesthetic appearance of your mouth, but also has a significant impact on the health of your mouth and the surrounding area.

Causes of Malocclusion

The causes of malocclusion can be broadly divided into three categories:

Heredity

The size, shape, and position of the jaw bone are determined to some extent by genetics. This is why parents and children often share maxillary prognathism (protruding teeth) and mandibular prognathism (underbite).

Decayed milk teeth

If decayed baby teeth are left untreated, they can fall out early or the eruption of permanent teeth can be delayed, resulting in loss of space for the teeth to align properly, which can lead to malocclusion.

Oral habits

Habits such as thumb sucking and sticking out the tongue can lead to crowding and open bites (gaps in the front teeth when biting). Other habits such as mouth breathing and nail biting can also affect the bite.

Types of malocclusion

crowd

This is a condition in which teeth do not fit into the jaw and grow unevenly and crookedly. Also known as crooked teeth, crooked teeth are one example of this type of crowding. In addition to being unsightly, it can also lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease if some teeth are not brushed properly.

Maxillary prognathism

This is a condition in which the upper front teeth protrude forward. It is commonly called "bucktooth." There is a risk of cutting the lip or breaking the front teeth if the teeth protrude.

Mandibular prognathism

This is a condition in which the lower front teeth protrude forward. It is generally called an "underbite," and is also called an "overbite" because the bite of the upper and lower teeth is reversed from front to back. This can cause problems with chewing and affect speech.

Open bite

When the upper and lower teeth bite together, there is a gap in the front teeth, which is also called an "open bite." It becomes difficult to bite food with the front teeth. It can also lead to mouth breathing and speech disorders.
Habitual thumb sucking can be a cause.

Edge-to-edge bite

When biting down, the upper front teeth should be positioned slightly forward, but the tips of the upper and lower front teeth are biting together. This can easily lead to tooth wear and fracture.

Deep bite

This is a condition where the front teeth overlap deeper than normal, also known as a "deep bite." It puts strain on the teeth and jaw, and can even cause temporomandibular joint disorder.

Diastema

When there are gaps between your teeth, it is called "gap teeth." In addition to being unsightly, it can also lead to food getting stuck in the gaps, which can lead to cavities and periodontal disease.