Have you started noticing bigger gaps between your teeth? Perhaps you’ve developed an alignment issue. It helps to know how to spot the signs it’s time to see your orthodontist in Nashville.
Scheduling an appointment right away can help you start immediate treatment. The sooner you begin treatment, the more likely you’ll avoid complications.
Otherwise, crooked teeth can put added pressure on certain parts of your mouth. You could develop complications as a result. Meanwhile, alignment issues can also impact your self-confidence.
About 4 million Americans already wear braces. Meanwhile, 25% of these individuals are adults. You can visit your Nashville orthodontist to start treatment, too.
Are you asking yourself, “Should I go to the orthodontist?” Here are six signs you need to make an appointment today.
Read on to discover when to see the orthodontist to improve your smile and oral health!
1. Gaps Between Teeth
Take a look at your smile in the mirror. Do you notice unseemly gaps between your teeth? If you’ve started noticing additional spacing, consider visiting an orthodontist in Nashville.
You’re not alone. Over half of Americans feel insecure about the appearance of their teeth. Over 60% wish they could change something about their teeth, too.
Wanting to close spaces between teeth is among one of the top concerns as well.
You might start hiding your smile behind closed lips if you feel insecure about your teeth. With orthodontic treatment, you won’t have to hide anymore.
Schedule a consultation appointment with the best orthodontist in town. Your Nashville orthodontist will help you review your treatment options. For example, they might suggest traditional metal braces or Invisalign.
Either way, they’ll help you weigh the pros and cons based on your distinct goals.
If you’re worried about the appearance of metal brackets and wires, you might consider Invisalign instead. Invisalign uses clear, plastic aligners, allowing for discretion. Most people won’t notice you’re wearing aligners.
Over time, the aligners will bring your teeth closer together, closing any visible gaps. Then, you can start showing off your stunning, improved smile.
Closing the gaps between your teeth can help you avoid oral health issues down the road, too. Bacteria, food particles, and plaque will have fewer places to hide. You could avoid tooth decay or gingivitis as a result.
2. Crooked Teeth
If your teeth are starting to look a little crooked, you might struggle to floss and brush your teeth thoroughly. You might leave lingering food particles between your teeth as a result. You could struggle to remove plaque that gets trapped between your teeth, too.
Plaque is a clear film that sticks to the surface of your teeth. You can remove plaque by brushing and flossing.
When plaque gets the chance to linger, it can harden into tartar. Your risk of gum disease (gingivitis) could increase.
Gum disease can progress into periodontal disease, which could increase your risk of losing teeth.
If you have crooked teeth, ask yourself, “Should I go to the orthodontist?” They’ll let you know if you’re an ideal candidate for treatment.
Orthodontic treatment will straighten your teeth to ensure proper alignment. You can close gaps between your crooked teeth, too. You’ll have an easier time brushing, flossing, and keeping gingivitis at bay.
3. An Over- or Underbite
You’ll also know when to see the orthodontist based on your bite.
You likely have an overbite if your top row of teeth overlap with the bottom row. You can visit your Nashville orthodontist to determine the best course of action. While a slight overbite is normal, it could lead to complications when left untreated.
If you can no longer see your lower teeth, you likely have a severe overbite.
If your top teeth protrude over the lower teeth, you have an overjet.
A misalignment can increase your risk of an accident. For example, you could knock out a tooth. You might require a dental implant to replace teeth after an oral trauma.
An overbite can cause your enamel to wear down over time, too. Tooth enamel protects your teeth from decay. You can’t regain lost enamel.
You could develop an underbite as well. If you have an underbite, you might struggle to chew your food properly. If you don’t chew your food thoroughly, your stomach will have to work twice as hard to digest meals.
You might begin experiencing digestive issues as a result.
In some cases, an underbite can impact your appearance by causing signs of premature aging, too.
Visiting your Nashville orthodontist right away will help improve your bite, allowing you to avoid complications.
4. A Crossbite
Sometimes, an upper tooth can cross behind one of your lower teeth. You side develop a crossbite. A crossbite can also develop when your teeth don’t meet on each side.
Complications can include asymmetric jaw growth. The risk of TMJ disorder could increase, too.
If you develop a crossbite, you might experience accelerated tooth wear. Receding gums are a common side effect as well.
Visit the best orthodontist in town before you begin experiencing these complications.
You can learn more about choosing an orthodontist here.
5. Speech Issues
When your teeth aren’t properly aligned, you could find it’s difficult to pronounce certain words. Some patients even develop a lisp. If you’ve noticed changes in your ability to speak clearly, visit your orthodontist.
Otherwise, the speech problems you’re experiencing could become frustrating or even embarrassing. Fixing the alignment of your teeth can help.
6. Pain When Chewing
Some patients experience pain when chewing meals. They also bite the inside of their cheeks or tongue while chewing. These issues might indicate a misalignment.
Your orthodontist can determine the source of the problem before recommending a course of treatment.
Straighter Smiles: 6 Signs to Visit Your Orthodontist in Nashville
Don’t let alignment issues or gaps between your teeth impact your oral health. Instead, know how to recognize the signs it’s time to visit your orthodontist in Nashville. They can help you start treatment.
With a customized treatment plan, you can improve your smile and avoid complications down the road.
Searching for more tips and tricks? You’ve come to the right place.
Check out our latest guides today for more useful advice.
