There are a number of reasons a person can have crooked teeth. Maybe their mouth is too small for their teeth, causing crowding and overlapping. Maybe their upper and lower jaws are different sizes and improperly aligned, causing an overbite, underbite, or jaw protrusion. Maybe their parents also have crooked teeth, and they inherited the trait from them.
Regardless of the reason for crooked teeth, it’s important to know how crooked teeth affect health. When teeth are crowded, spaced out, or misaligned, it can become very difficult to clean adequately between them, causing a buildup of plaque and an increased risk of gum disease. These issues can be alleviated by regular dental appointments, but as long as teeth are crooked, oral health problems such as cavities and plaque buildup will continue to crop up.
While crooked teeth are often as healthy as straight teeth, the issues lie between the teeth. When teeth are straight, they are usually evenly spaced out, leaving enough room in between for effective flossing, brushing, and mouth rinsing. But when teeth are crooked, some teeth may be uncomfortably close to others, making it difficult to floss or brush between them. This creates an environment where bacteria thrive.
While it’s important for everyone to feel comfortable with their appearance, crooked teeth can affect more than just self-esteem — they can lead to some serious health problems. When left untreated, crooked teeth can lead to the following:
Cavities: Straight teeth are often easier to clean than crooked teeth, as crooked teeth make it more difficult to reach all of the nooks and crannies of your mouth with a toothbrush and floss. When plaque builds up, it can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and more.
Gingivitis: Gum disease, or gingivitis, can often be caused by crooked teeth. Gingivitis develops when excess bacteria build between the teeth and near the gums, turning into harmful plaque. Gingivitis can be painful, and can accelerate tooth decay and lead to more serious health conditions.
Chewing difficulties: If teeth are severely crooked they can impact the way you bite, chew, and move your jaw. This unnatural jaw movement can put stress on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are involved with opening and closing your mouth. TMJ disorders cause pain in your jaw joints and muscles, and can be difficult and costly to treat.
Enamel damage: When teeth are overcrowded or protruding, they can wear down in places straight teeth would not. This can damage and erode the enamel that protects your teeth. And when enamel is gone, tooth decay can happen quickly and frequently. 
Bad breath: As mentioned above, crooked teeth make it easier for bacteria and plaque to build up between teeth, making it harder to properly clean every inch of your mouth. When these bacteria linger in the mouth, they can cause chronic bad breath, no matter how often you brush and floss your teeth or chew gum.
Self-consciousness: Beautiful, healthy smiles naturally make people feel more confident about their looks. When people are proud of their smiles, they want to show them off — not hide them by smiling with their mouths closed. If a person is embarrassed or self-conscious of their crooked teeth, they may feel awkward in social situations and withdraw from other people.
Overall health risks: Crooked teeth can affect so much more than your breath, self-esteem, or chewing. Dental issues caused by plaque buildup can lead to harmful oral infections, which may lead to serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and pneumonia. It’s important to catch issues like plaque buildup, tooth decay, and cavities before they develop into something more severe.
Having straight teeth is about a lot more than having a beautiful smile and feeling confident. Straight teeth can also mean less negative health effects, as crooked teeth health problems can be common. Besides looking beautiful and boosting confidence, straight teeth allow for better oral hygiene, which can reduce bacteria and plaque buildup, meaning less cavities.
If you’re taking the time to read this blog post, you’re probably already thinking about how to straighten your crooked teeth. The good news is that today’s technology and dental advancements have made it possible for anyone to get the smile they love in a way that feels comfortable.
Metal braces are well-known as the customary solution to crooked teeth, but they’re not the only option anymore. People wanting straighter teeth don’t have to suffer through painful metal brackets, awkward smiles, and frequent orthodontist appointments. Instead, adults and teens alike can use clear aligners, which are virtually invisible and offer the same benefits of traditional metal braces.
Clear aligners are a popular alternative to metal braces. They gradually straighten crooked teeth over time, and can even be taken out when you eat, drink, and brush your teeth. Clear aligners are a great solution for those who want to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile without committing to the time and expense of traditional braces.
One of the greatest things about modern technology is that you have more options than ever before with your dental care. Now, you can customize your orthodontic treatment to better fit your lifestyle and schedule. With NewSmile®, you don’t even have to leave your house to fix your crooked teeth. You won’t have any trips to the orthodontist’s office, and you won’t have to pay nearly as much as you would for traditional braces.
If you are feeling less than confident about your crooked teeth, NewSmile® is here to help. Our at-home teeth straightening allows people to fix crooked teeth, gaps, overcrowding, and more in a matter of months.
If you’re ready to fix your crooked teeth, improve your oral health, and boost your confidence, get started with your NewSmile® Smile Assessment. Your beautiful smile is just a few steps away.
Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/crooked-teeth-misaligned-bites#1
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