When you think about your dental health, you might focus on brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups. But did you know that the way your teeth come together when you bite can also have a significant impact on your oral health?
At Fort Washington Dental Associates, we want to help you enjoy great oral health for life. And a healthy bite is the best foundation for protecting your teeth, gums, jaw joints, and overall well-being.
How do you know if you have bite problems? How can malocclusion affect your teeth and gums? And most importantly, what can you do about it? Let’s dive in!
What Is Occlusal Disharmony?
In a healthy bite, your top and bottom teeth should fit together like puzzle pieces. The high points on one tooth should fit into the valley of the opposing tooth.
Most importantly, all your teeth should share the pressure of your bite evenly. When your bite is balanced and harmonious, your teeth work together as a team.
Bite problems happen when your teeth don’t line up properly.
Some types of malocclusion are orthodontic issues that involve the development of your jaws and teeth, such as:
- Overbite – when the upper front teeth come down too far and cover most or all of the lower front teeth.
- Overjet – when the upper arch of teeth sit farther forward that the lower arch of teeth.
- Underbite – when the lower jaw extends past your upper jaw.
- Crossbite – when one or more teeth sit too far to the side (toward your tongue or toward your cheek) and doesn’t line up with the opposing tooth.
- Open bite – when the upper and lower teeth do not meet at all in an area, usually the front teeth.
Other than these types of malocclusion, bite problems can also happen because of dental health issues such as:
- Missing teeth
- Broken or damaged teeth
- Poorly-fitting dental restorations
- Anything that prevents stable contacts of equal intensity across all your teeth
Each type of malocclusion affects your mouth differently, but all can lead to complications if left untreated. However, since you’re probably accustomed to how your teeth fit together, you might not notice the problem. So how do you know if you have bite problems?
Warning Signs That Your Bite Is Uneven
It’s not always easy to tell if you have a bite problem. However, there are some warning signs you can look out for:
- Uneven Wear on Teeth: If you notice that certain teeth are more worn down than others, it could be a sign of an uneven bite.
- Jaw Pain or Clicking: Frequent jaw pain or a clicking sound when you open or close your mouth could indicate a problem with your bite.
- Frequent Headaches: Bite problems can lead to tension headaches, particularly if you experience pain in the temples or the back of the head.
- Difficulty Chewing: If you have trouble chewing food evenly or feel discomfort when you bite down, your bite may be misaligned.
- Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Grinding your teeth, especially at night, is often a response to an uneven bite. This habit can lead to further tooth damage and jaw pain.
- Receding Gums: Excessive pressure can cause the gums, ligaments, and bone socket that support the teeth to break down, leading to periodontal issues and gum recession.
- Sensitive Teeth: Grinding, clenching, and uneven pressure can wear down the enamel and irritate the nerves of your teeth, leading to sensitivity.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with Fort Washington Dental Associates. We can assess your situation and work with you to create a treatment plan to balance your bite.
How Bite Problems Can Affect Your Teeth and Gums
Malocclusion is more than just a cosmetic issue. It can lead to several oral health problems and even cause serious, irreversible damage.
Uneven pressure can cause stress fractures in the teeth. Over time, these cracks can propagate through the tooth. Best case scenario, the tooth will break above the gums and we can repair it with a dental crown. However, in many cases, these cracks reach the tooth root, in which case the tooth is no longer salvageable and will need to be removed.
Even if the teeth don’t crack or break, worn-down enamel is more susceptible to decay and further wear and damage. As the teeth become worn down, your bite problems will become worse, creating a cycle that can be hard to reverse.
Bite problems can be a major factor in your gum health. Crowded and misaligned teeth are harder to clean appropriately, leading to more plaque buildup that can trigger gingivitis. Plus, excess pressure can damage the support structures of your teeth. This can lead to loose teeth and even cause teeth to fall out in some cases.
Most significantly, bite disharmony can strain your jaw joints and chewing muscles. Bite problems are one of the most common root causes of TMJ disorder.
When your jaw can’t find a stable resting position, it’s likely that you’ll start grinding or clenching your teeth, which strains the chewing muscles and causes headaches and functional issues. These problems can damage the pad of cartilage in the jaw joint. When your teeth become worn down, your jaw will over-close, further straining the cartilage and joints.
As you can see, an uneven bite is not something to ignore. But what can you do about it?
How Can Fort Washington Dental Associates Improve Your Bite Problems?
Our mission is to provide everything your smile needs for long term health in one convenient, comfortable dental office in Washington Heights. We can provide several treatments for bite problems, including:
1. Clear aligners to discreetly improve the alignment of your teeth.
2. Dental crowns to rebuild enamel lost to wear or fractures.
3. Dental implants and bridges to replace missing teeth.
4. Gum grafting to strengthen and rebuild areas of recession.
After improving the overall alignment of your teeth, we can also perform occlusal adjustments to subtly reshape your teeth to relieve areas where the teeth hit too hard and create a balanced final result.
If you’re tired of headaches, stiff jaw, sensitive teeth, and tender gums, schedule your consultation to have your bite evaluated today so you can start enjoying a more comfortable smile tomorrow!
