Crossbites: Everything You Need to Know
Crossbite is a misalignment of a tooth or teeth where one or more teeth are positioned irregularly. The teeth may be closer to your tongue or misplaced from the ideal position in this crossbite.
If there is a crossbite situation, you won’t be able to close your mouth correctly, making it difficult for you to eat or speak. This situation also leaves a psychological impact on losing your confidence. If the condition worsens, it will lead to improper growth of jawbones; therefore, it must be adequately treated to have a perfect facial structure. If you are facing crossbites in Brookline, you can consult a Brookline general dentist for better care and treatment.
What are Signs of Crossbites?
There are various signs and symptoms of crossbites that you can recognize and move ahead for treatment. Some of the critical signs are as follows:
- Two rows of teeth don’t touch each other.
- Unable to speak correctly and having a lisp
- Pain in the jaw
- Biting in the inner cheek and tongue while speaking or eating
- Severe headaches
- Pain in several teeth
What are the Effects of Crossbites?
Crossbites disorient your smile and lip region, which is a significant problem for a person. However, there are some other effects which we can find in crossbites.
- Severe Headaches: Crossbites can also lead to severe headaches among adults and children. Teeth are used to chew and eat and support facial muscles. If your jaw is not aligned correctly, it will strain the jaw muscles and joints, ultimately leading to headaches. The jaw muscles and joints are linked to the brain’s nerves. This link is also associated with the neck and shoulders, and therefore, sometimes, there is pain in these regions, too.
- Tooth Decay: It becomes difficult to brush our teeth in misaligned teeth because of their shape and position. So, when there are no clean teeth, it can give birth to bacteria and thus lead to tooth decay.
- Painful Bites: Crossbites mainly lead to painful bites, generating unbearable pain. Therefore, it is essential to consider these effects and move to treatment as soon as possible.
What are the Treatment Options Available for Crossbites?
- Tooth Extraction: This is one of the options available for treating the crossbites if there is overcrowding and misaligned teeth. Tooth extraction can be a painful process, and it can be made simpler with the use of anesthesia.
- Braces: Braces are the most common option available for patients who will correct the misalignment. However, braces tend to work slowly, but it is an effective treatment option.