Dental Braces: Solution, Prevention, Or Both?


Dental braces were developed to mainly help with misaligned teeth. It’s common for teeth to move, while in their growing stage, leading to misalignment. Other causes of teeth misalignment include naturally having an overbite, thumb sucking, and the use of pacifiers with children.

Experts recommend parents to have their child’s screening for braces no later than the age of 7.  The earlier such issues are detected, the sooner the treatment can be completed. However, dentists don’t always recommend braces for crooked teeth alone. This treatment can help with other dental issues.

Tooth decay and periodontal disease

Tooth misalignments can occur in a number of ways. When the misalignment causes teeth to overlap, there’s a greater chance of tooth decay. The bristles of the toothbrush aren’t able to reach the tooth that’s covered, leading to bacterial buildup. This eventually leads to tooth decay and possibly an infection in the tooth, which is painful. Your dentist won’t have a choice but to remove such teeth.

The bacterial buildup can also lead to gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss, infection of the jaw, and even cancer.

Issues with speech



Teeth play a vital part when it comes to your speech. The front teeth in particular determine whether you have a lisp or other speech difficulties. When the teeth are misaligned, too far out, or too far in, they can affect the way you speak. This leads to embarrassment and can affect your confidence. Braces put your teeth in place and solve these issues with speech.

An over or under bite makes it difficult to say certain words, but braces move the teeth that are causing the issue. Any spaces between teeth can also lead to a whistling sound that can be quite frustrating. Braces move the teeth into the correct position so that such gaps are filled.

If you find yourself slurring on words, it’s mainly because your jaws are misaligned. Braces ensure your jaw aligns perfectly, giving you clear speech.

Bone erosion

Bone and gum tissue erode when there are no teeth to support. Therefore, whether you have misaligned or missing teeth, the extra pressure exerted on the jaw leads to bone erosion. This bone erosion can be prevented with the help of braces. Braces support the bones and tissue in the mouth. They move ligaments by stretching out the connective tissue.

Digestion

Many people don’t realize the importance teeth play with digestion. It needs to be chewed on properly to kick start the digestion process. The enzymes in the saliva also begin to break down certain food groups so it’s essential to spend time chewing your food.

If your teeth are severely misaligned, it won’t be able to break down the food effectively. That means your digestive system has to put in more effort to break down the food. Braces can help straighten your teeth so that you can chew your food well. You will find your digestion has improved once you’re done with the treatment.

Visit our dental clinic in Rockville for a screening. Our dentists will recommend the best treatment plan for you. We’re a Family Dentists in Germantown that also provides gum treatments as well as emergency treatments. Call (301) 353-8890 to book an appointment.

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