How Crowded Teeth Affect Your Oral Health

The Impact of Crowded Teeth

If you have teeth that don’t seem to fit into your mouth, it probably makes you feel self-conscious about the way you look. Would it surprise you to learn that crowded teeth can affect more than just your self-esteem? Beyond the aesthetic impact, crowded teeth can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay, excessive wear, speech problems, and even TMJ disorders. Let’s take a look at the effects of crowded teeth, and how you can solve the problem.

What Causes Crowded Teeth?

Crowding happens when there is not enough room in the jaw for all of the teeth to line up the way that they should. This can lead to teeth that are misaligned, overlapping, or rotated. But how does it happen?

• One factor in teeth crowding is genetics. If your parents have small jaws or crowded teeth, you may have the same condition.
• The size of your jaw can cause crowding. Obviously, if your jaw is not big enough to hold all of your teeth, they will be crowded.
• What happens to your primary teeth matters. If they are lost early, or if you suck your thumb or use a pacifier for a long time, the alignment of the primary teeth can be disrupted, leading to crowding of permanent teeth.

Crowded Teeth and Oral Health

When your teeth are misaligned and crowded, it can cause many different problems for your oral health.

• Crowded teeth are hard to clean. Crowded teeth overlap and push against each other, making it difficult to reach their surfaces when you brush and floss. This increases the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.
• Misaligned teeth wear unevenly. Because the surfaces of misaligned teeth meet each other incorrectly, they can experience uneven wear and tear. The result is often erosion and damage to the teeth.
• Jaw strain can result from teeth crowding. This can lead to disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and symptoms like jaw pain and headaches.
• Crowded teeth can make it hard to chew. The unhealthy alignment that results from teeth crowding can make chewing difficult and uncomfortable.
• When teeth are crowded, it can be difficult to speak properly. If the crowding is severe enough, it can interfere with tongue placement and cause lisping or another speech impediment.

Fixing Crowded Teeth

If you have crowded teeth, there is not much you, on your own, can do to fix them. Fortunately, your dentist can help you find the solution to your problem. Extraction is one solution, but crowded teeth can also be corrected using orthodontic treatment like braces or clear aligners. While extreme crowding sometimes requires solutions like palate expansion or surgical intervention, mild cases can sometimes be corrected with dental bonding or contouring.

Let Park 56 Find Solutions for Your Crowded Teeth

The best way to find a solution for your crowded or misaligned teeth is to schedule a consultation with an expert, knowledgeable dental practice with a sterling reputation. At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.