Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing MI
Multiple studies show how your smile significantly impacts how others perceive you, especially when making a critical first impression. Whether you go to a job interview or on a first date, your smile makes a statement before you utter a word. Unfortunately, the moment may induce fearful emotions for some if they have crooked teeth. Although the primary focus may be crookedness, there are other underlying dangers. Today on the blog, our Okemos family dentist, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares what crooked teeth have to do with your oral health and how orthodontics can help.
Crooked Teeth Make Oral Hygiene Challenging
When teeth are twisted, misaligned, or overlapping, they can cover other tooth and gum surfaces. The areas become difficult to clean, easily capture food debris, and make a perfect home for harboring bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Our dentist in East Lansing that offers Invisalign explains that adults with poorly aligned teeth may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
Misaligned Teeth Can Make Speaking and Eating Difficult
Misaligned teeth can make forming certain words with your mouth difficult, potentially leading to unclear speech. Furthermore, crooked teeth that don’t touch properly when chewing could result in tooth damage that requires expensive repairs due to uneven biting pressure. Our Lansing Invisalign provider explains that adequately aligned teeth should evenly distribute biting pressure when you bite down. The alignment ensures that you can chew food like meat and crunchy vegetables without exerting too much biting pressure on any particular tooth.
A Poorly Aligned Bite May Lead to More Dental Problems
Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ or TMD, is a condition that can develop when your jaw is out of alignment or due to severely misaligned teeth. The jaw joint connects your lower jawbone to the skull and is responsible for movement when eating and speaking. People who cannot close their mouths properly because of crooked teeth or a poorly aligned bite can irritate the muscles around the joint and cause inflammation during regular daily activities. Symptoms can include pain in the jaw, cheeks, neck, shoulders, back or frequent headaches ranging from inconvenient to debilitating. Therefore, if you have crooked teeth and experience any of the above symptoms, contact our experienced dentist in Okemos that offers TMJ treatment.
You may also be a candidate for Invisalign orthodontics
Invisalign for Adults in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Crooked teeth can be the culprit for multiple dental health conditions that could quickly compound and cause extensive treatments that cost additional time and money. Dr. Tenaglia can examine your oral health and tooth alignment to determine the best course of action for your particular dental needs. During the consultation, feel free to ask what options are available for correcting your smile. Then, our Lansing dental office can custom-design a treatment plan to address your oral health needs. Call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or schedule an appointment online today to begin your journey to a straighter smile and better oral health.