Common Bite Problems In Children and Adults

Your bite is a very important part of your oral health since in dental terms a “bite” is referred to as proper adjustments of lower and upper teeth when they come together to allow a force to chew or to eat. Children, as well as adults, do face bite problems at certain points in time and this can be due to various reasons.

While children may suffer from bite problems by not being able to enjoy their food, in adults the problem may worsen since it can affect your professional front as well which won’t be a good sign for your career. So in order to avoid such problems, you need to look after your oral hygiene with utmost care and preventive measures.

Common Bite Problems In Children and Adults

Your dentist may advise you to follow certain rules while brushing and flossing or using fluoridated mouthwash and toothpaste to make your teeth stronger. But due to the lifestyle we live in nowadays, it isn’t possible for all of us to understand the need of following a healthy oral routine. A bad bite is referred to as malocclusions, in which teeth meet improperly or they don’t meet at all. Such cases lead to problems with oral health such as bite problems and some common problems that develop as a consequence are mentioned by one of the expert Orthodontists in Kaneohe.

Crossbite:

Crossbite happens when your upper teeth get completely fit inside your lower teeth. It is mainly caused by the misalignment of teeth, it includes baby teeth as well or misalignment of bones, which are capable of disturbing a whole group of teeth.

There are two types of Crossbite:

  • Posterior Crossbite: If the back teeth are affected, upper teeth are mostly inside of bottom teeth.
  • Anterior Crossbite: If the front teeth are affected, the top teeth are inside the bottom teeth.

If the Crossbite is left untreated, then possible consequences are that your jaw may shift to one side, abrupt jaw growth and wearing down of enamel may also occur.

Underbite:

When the lower jaw sits in front of the upper jaw, then the case is referred to as Underbite. The Underbite if left untreated may cause your face to appear bulgier, wearing of teeth, and stress on jaw points may also occur.

Open bite:

When the top and bottom teeth don’t touch each other even if it is fully closed, then it is known as an open bite. It can be often seen as there is an opening between the mouth. There are two types of open bite:

  • Anterior Open Bite: It occurs when the back teeth come together, and the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap each other. This is caused by excessive sucking, the thrusting of the tongue, and mouth breathing.
  • Posterior Open Bite: It occurs when the set of front teeth meets, but the back teeth don’t.

Open bite, if left untreated, as suggested by an orthodontist can lead to swallowing and speech problems.

Deep Bite:

When the mouth is closed, and the upper front teeth cover the bottom teeth completely, then it is referred to as a deep bite. Deep bite if left untreated can lead to decaying of gums, possible gum infections, early enamel wear, and infection at the roof of the mouth.

Crowding:

Crowding is a term used when there is so much space occupied by the teeth that it becomes difficult to open your mouth and chew the food. It happens as a result of abnormal eruption of teeth at different positions other than the original one. Crowding results in teeth that overlap, get rotated, and give a crooked appearance.

Crowding if left untreated can lead to difficulty in cleaning the mouth, cavities especially in between the teeth, and lots of gum diseases.

Spacing:

If there is too much space between the teeth, then it is considered as spacing. Anything that exceeds the limit of 3mm in between the two teeth is considered as spacing. It can be a result of missing teeth, undersized and oversized teeth, oversized jaws, and a combination of these conditions.   Spacing, if left untreated, can adversely affect your orthodontic health. Food may get stuck in between the spaces leading to cavities and gum infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Protrusion:

The protrusion is a condition when the upper jaw of the mouth is too much forward and the lower jaw is too much at the back of the mouth. A set of front teeth usually appears outside the mouth in this condition. The people who suffer from protrusion may also suffer from deep bites. The protrusion, if left untreated may lead to breaking of teeth in accidental cases, it will be hard to completely close the mouth and the lips followed by tooth decay, gum diseases, speech impairment, and a long narrow face.

Bottom Line:

In any of these cases, if you don’t offer the treatment at the time, it will possibly affect you for a lifetime and your oral health might become permanently unhygienic leading to severe problems later. So even if you are following all the healthcare routines, it is mandatory to have dental appointments regularly to keep in check and solve the problems before they take a dramatic turn.

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