Dentists cover a wide variety of oral health concerns, from the teeth to the gums and jaw, but orthodontists are important specialists within dentistry that focus on correcting a person’s bite and occlusion and generally ensuring a person’s teeth stay straight and properly spaced. At some point in your life, it’s highly likely you’ll need to visit an orthodontist. To help you know when it’s time, here are some different signs you need to see an orthodontist.
Pain or Sores
If you often experience pain in your gums, teeth, or jaw, that’s a common sign that something is wrong with your oral hygiene. An orthodontist will be able to diagnose potential issues that are causing your mouth such discomfort and pain, and they’ll then suggest solutions to provide you relief. They’ll also work to correct the issue so that your mouth returns to a normal state. You should never consider pain, aches, and sores the norm for your mouth.
Difficulty with Speech
A variety of factors can cause speech issues, but your oral health can be one major cause. As with pains and sores, an orthodontist can help you determine if the problem truly is an orthodontic one and, if it is, provide solutions to correct your teeth and jaw to a state where speaking is no longer difficult.
Gapped or Crowded Teeth
Of the different signs you need to see an orthodontist, the most common is gaps and overcrowded teeth. This primarily occurs and is corrected in young teens whose baby teeth have all fallen out and whose permanent teeth have grown in crooked and misaligned. This is when braces or aligners are used to gradually correct teeth into a properly spaced line. That said, plenty of adults need orthodontic aid such as braces later in life, and it’s nothing to feel ashamed of.
Crossbite or Overbite
If you ever notice that your teeth are misaligned whenever you close your mouth, this is a major sign that you need orthodontics. This condition may not feel major if it isn’t uncomfortable, but it can actually contribute to your teeth breaking. On the other hand, an open bite is when the top and bottom rows of your teeth struggle to touch, making it challenging to chew and bite. Corrective processes that realign your jaw can solve both issues.
