If you’ve ever considered the alignment of your teeth, you probably think of it in conjunction with the braces your parents discussed when you were a young teenager.
They weren’t too concerned with how your teeth were aligned, or maybe they couldn’t afford it at the time, so you didn’t have orthodontic treatment while you were growing up. But as you’ve gotten older, even as an independent twenty-something, you started having jaw pain.
Maybe it’s time to begin considering that orthodontic treatment again, both for jaw pain and better long term oral health.
Jaw Pain Among Other Things
Though you might not be aware of it, pain in your jaw is just the beginning of your tooth alignment issues. It’s typically caused by having to hold the muscles in an odd position and make them work differently to chew. The tension in your facial muscles not only cause pain, but can also contribute to dizziness, ear ache, and chronic migraine! The trigger for each of these can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. But the pain doesn’t stop there.
If left untreated, pain and discomfort from bite misalignment can lead to discomfort or tension in your neck and shoulders muscles. This may continue to radiate to your lower back and hip, which contribute to problems with your gait or posture. While you may think that your stride is the most important of the two, your posture is critical. When your shoulders are tight and your neck is slumped, you won’t get all the air that you need to breathe correctly. This affect your overall health, slowing your metabolism, and increasing the possibility for pain and inflammation throughout your entire body.
It seems like a stretch, but crooked or misaligned teeth impact more than just your smile or self-confidence!
How Do I Correct Crooked Teeth?
The best way to correct your poor bite alignment and the problems it causes is to consider getting orthodontic treatment and/or neuromuscular dental treatment. Invisalign is a very convenient option, as they’re clear and removable. Dr. Kherani will take digital images of your teeth so you can follow your treatment all the way from start to finish. Every two weeks, you’ll change your tray for a new one, and your teeth will continue to move into the correct position until ideal alignment is achieved.
While orthodontic therapy is typically the best or most common treatment for misaligned teeth, other therapies may also work. Adjusting existing crowns in your mouth is one way to work on calibrating your bite. Even getting new restorations or dental implants for missing teeth may help your jaw stop hurting.
Dr. Kherani has the experience necessary to determine which treatment is the best for your unique situation. Check out our website to find out which treatments we offer and how we can help. Schedule your next appointment today!
