If you’ve ever looked at your
smile in the mirror and thought “Something just doesn’t look right,” you might
have malocclusion.
Malocclusion is a term that refers to the alignment of your
teeth, but obviously, not everyone is born with comfortable alignment. In a
perfect world, all our teeth would easily fit in our mouths without any
crowding, spacing, or “twists.” The upper teeth should very slightly overlap
those on the bottom, so that the grooves of your upper molars fit right into
those on the bottom.
However, with so many moving
parts and variables, malocclusion is extremely common. When a person tries to
live with malocclusion without trying to fix it, they might not be able to
perform vital functions like chewing and may also cause the cheeks and lips to
be bitten—the alignment of the lower teeth is crucial in preventing the tongue
from being bitten.
If you’re not sure if you have
malocclusion, of course you should see a Pittsburgh orthodontist like Dr. Reed.
These are some of the possible warning signs and symptoms that you have
malocclusion, according
to Healthline:
- the use of a pacifier after the age of three
- the prolonged use of bottle feeding in early childhood
- thumb sucking in early childhood
- injuries that result in the misalignment of the jaw
- tumors in the mouth or jaw
- abnormally shaped or impacted teeth
- poor dental care that results in improperly fitting dental fillings, crowns, or braces
What
Are the Symptoms of Malocclusion?
Depending
on the classification of malocclusion, the symptoms of the disorder may be
subtle or severe. Typical symptoms of malocclusion include:
- improper alignment of the teeth
- alteration in the appearance of the face
- discomfort when chewing or biting
- speech problems, including the development of a lisp
- breathing through the mouth rather than the nose
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