A healthy, confident smile can make you feel good about yourself. If you’ve ever wondered, “How to know if you need braces?” you’re not alone. It seems like everyone, sooner or later, gets braces when they’re young. But you don’t see any major problems with your teeth, so you aren’t sure whether you need braces.
Crooked, overlapping, or gapped teeth are signs that you might need braces. If you have these problems, make an appointment to see our Braces Riverside dentist immediately.
How to Know if You Need Braces
There are several ways to tell whether a person might need braces. teeth creaking or crooked, overcrowding, and noticeable gaps between the front teeth are all signs that orthodontic treatment may be needed.
Your teeth may appear crooked or spaced apart, making it difficult to brush and floss. This can lead to plaque buildup, which increases your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
If you notice these signs, consulting with an orthodontist about whether braces or Invisalign would be best for you is a good idea.
Signs You Need Braces
Braces aren’t just for making your smile look pretty. Today, let’s talk about the major signs you should watch for that may indicate you need braces ASAP!
Your Teeth Are Crowded
First, if your teeth are crowded when you smile at yourself in the mirror, it’s probably time to get braces. If your teeth are crooked or misaligned on the top and/or bottom rows, you might need braces to fix that problem. It’s usually best to take care of this sooner rather than later.
Gaps and Spaces Between Teeth
You might need braces if there are gaps or spaces between your teeth. When one or more teeth are missing, nearby teeth will move into the space created by these gaps. This allows people to chew their food more easily and comfortably than if all of their natural teeth were intact.
In other cases, that extra room could cause the remaining teeth to shift and become crooked, which is equally problematic. Braces can close the gaps between your teeth, preventing them from sliding around or becoming crooked.
Over or Underbite
Overbite and underbite are dental conditions in which one’s teeth or jaw creak because they are misaligned, causing the top row of teeth to protrude far in front of their bottom counterparts—or vice versa. Since overbite and underbite can result from crooked teeth or jaw pain problems, braces may be key to correcting this alignment issue.
Crossbite
You might suffer from a crossbite, in which an upper tooth crosses over the lower teeth. If left untreated, crossbites can cause problems with breathing and speaking.
Openbite
An open bite is a type of malocclusion—the medical term for having teeth that don’t meet properly when you close your mouth. Braces might be necessary if most of your teeth don’t touch or seem misaligned in an average bite.
You Cut Your Tongue on Your Teeth Often
It’s usually not a big deal when you bite or cut your tongue. But if this happens more often than normal and is painful for too long after the initial injury occurs, get checked out by an orthodontist to see whether braces may be right for you!
Clicking in Jaw Noises
The top and bottom jawbones are connected via cartilage, which allows them to slide past each other during chewing. But when a person’s teeth don’t align properly, their jawbones may rub together or click. When your jaw clicks or makes unnerving sounds when you eat or wake up, you might need braces.
When is the Right Time to Get Braces?
Braces are more effective if put on before anyone is in their late teens. That’s why orthodontists recommend that kids get braces to correct any problems with their teeth before it gets too difficult for the mouth to compensate.
The jawbones of children are still growing, so when they get braces, the teeth will shift in a way that minimizes how to know when you need braces and how much force is required to move them. This makes the process easier and reduces the overall treatment time.
Although adults can get braces, they might need extensive work to correct their dental problems. No matter what, there is always time to get braces.
Visit Your Trusted Riverside Orthodontist Now!
So, whether you’re considering braces for yourself or your child, schedule an appointment with our Riverside orthodontist. How do you know if you need braces? After all, it’s best to let the pros handle this. But braces alone cannot prevent tooth decay. Only a combination of excellent oral hygiene and regular visits to the Dental Clinic will maintain good dental health.
At Han Orthodontics, we believe that every smile is unique. That’s why we offer free consultations in Riverside, CA. Please schedule a consultation with our orthodontists by requesting an appointment using our form or calling (951) 686-5301 today!
