A confident, healthy smile is the key to self-assurance and overall well-being. If you’ve been contemplating braces or aligners but aren’t sure where to start or if you even need them, you’re not alone. Braces are most commonly prescribed during early adolescence but are becoming increasingly more common within adults as well.
Many dental issues can make themselves apparent over time as you grow, or simply be due to genetics. Several signs can translate into the need for braces. Thankfully at SKS Orthodontics, we have experts ready to help you navigate this new path with plenty of options for children, teens, and adults.
Telltale Signs of Needing Orthodontic Treatment
Crooked Teeth
Misaligned teeth with gaps and an imperfect bite may just appear as an aesthetic problem, but it can often root a bit deeper than that and cause more of the issues listed below.
Crooked teeth usually mean that they’re overcrowded from the jaw not having enough room to evenly space them out. Because of this condensed space, teeth can rub together unevenly to create discolouration, rotation, and eruption of teeth.
An x-ray at your regular dental visits will also help identify how aligned your teeth are along your jaw, which will change as an adolescent grows, but is important to address early on. Minor overcrowding can be adjusted with Invisalign, but more complex cases will require the strength of metal or ceramic braces.
Difficulty Chewing & Biting
Even if your teeth are relatively straight, your jaw may still be misaligned. If you’ve ever noticed yourself frequently biting the inside of your cheek or tongue by accident while chewing, this can be an indicator that your bite should be more aligned. Any sort of pain while eating or chewing is always cause for concern.
Especially in children, it’s important to note if baby teeth are lost early or late, as this changes how the teeth shift into place and contributes to misalignment and more discomfort in the future.
Jaw Pain & Discomfort
Having crowded teeth can also lead to jaw muscle fatigue – forcing your jaw to work harder to accommodate for the unevenness as it functions. Any discomfort in the jaw or head area can also cause muscle stiffness in the back and shoulders, as well as more frequent sinus pressure and even headaches or migraines.
Discrepancies like an overbite, underbite, and crossbite, which can be corrected with use of rubber bands in addition to braces, can also provoke clicking or popping noises when chewing or opening your mouth wide.
Breathing & Speech Difficulties
In addition to an uncomfortable bite and jaw pain – another sign you might benefit from braces or aligners is dealing with any sort of breathing or speech difficulties.
Since the crowding of teeth can change the position of your tongue as it rests in your mouth, this can sometimes create a more condensed airway which makes it difficult to breathe through the nose.
Jaw proportions and changes in the shape of your face can also be apparent – leading to speech impediments, like the development of a lisp or tongue thrust. Oral surgery may even be necessary in some cases in tandem with braces to correct misaligned teeth and reset jaw alignment.
A Transformative Solution
Even if you’re just self-conscious about your smile and want to improve the alignment of your teeth, that’s still a valid reason to consider braces. It will still give you all the benefits of a healthy, straight set of teeth.
It’s better to address these concerns sooner rather than later – so if you, a loved one, or your child feel that they might need braces, schedule a free consultation with us today!
One of our friendly orthodontic specialists will sit down with you and assess your unique needs, beginning the rewarding path of committed oral health.
