If your upper front teeth cover your lower front teeth whenever you close your mouth, you have what’s known as an overbite. Naturally, many people with overbites are unhappy with how it affects their appearance and want to have it fixed for that reason alone. However, there are more important reasons to correct a misaligned bite than just cosmetics. The following post covers 5 important reasons why you should have an overbite treated by an orthodontist as soon as possible.
1. An Overbite Can Lead to Serious Gum Damage
In a severe overbite, the upper front teeth might end up biting the gum line of the lower front teeth. Over time, this can wear away at the tissue, eventually causing gum recession. Unfortunately, damaged gums do not grow back, and they can significantly increase your risk for oral health issues such as gum disease or even tooth loss. You should have a severe overbite addressed before it causes any lasting harm to your gums.
2. An Overbite Can Make It Harder to Speak and Chew
When your teeth don’t line up properly, you may have trouble pronouncing certain words and could develop a speech impediment. Furthermore, it’s more difficult to chew your food thoroughly with a misaligned bite. By having your overbite corrected, you can improve your ability to perform these everyday tasks without issue.
3. An Overbite Can Wear Down Your Enamel
Sometimes an overbite causes the teeth to slide against each other in unusual ways, which gradually erodes your enamel. Since enamel doesn’t contain any living cells, it can’t repair itself; as such, the damage to your teeth will only get worse over time and could eventually result in fractures. Fixing your overbite will help protect your smile.
4. An Overbite Increases Your Risk of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you’re asleep, forcing your body to wake up to resume breathing and preventing you from getting quality rest. People with overbites are more likely to develop sleep apnea, especially if they also have small mouths. As such, having your overbite fixed could be the key to sleeping soundly again.
5. An Overbite Can Contribute to Jaw Problems
A misaligned bite can put excessive pressure on your jaw joints, leading to a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). A TMD can cause jaw pain and headaches, and the problem will only get more severe if left untreated. In many cases, treating your overbite can be an important step in finding relief from TMD-related pain.
In short, appearances are far from the only reason to have an overbite corrected. Get in touch with your orthodontist today if you or a loved one has an overbite that needs to be addressed in the near future.
About the Author
Dr. Stan Drabik has been serving patients for over two decades, and he’s still as passionate as ever about improving smiles. He is a proud member of the American Association of Orthodontics, and he has plenty of experience using braces and other orthodontic appliances to correct overbite and other issues. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Drabik at Drabik Orthodontics in Webster, visit his website or call (585) 872-4660.