For people who don’t have perfectly aligned teeth naturally, you can often see it as an inconvenience but not a big deal. Sure your teeth aren’t perfectly straight and aligned, but you’re still confident to show off your smile and you don’t give it a second thought. Well, what if your teeth alignment issues can cause health problems? Those seemingly harmless out-of-place teeth can be a bigger problem than you may think.
Here we’ll take a look at what a crossbite is, the negative effects it can cause, and what you can do about it.
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What Is a Crossbite?
In simple terms, a crossbite refers to the alignment of your teeth. When your mouth is closed or at rest, your upper teeth will fit behind instead of in front of your bottom teeth. A crossbite doesn’t affect every tooth however, rather it affects a group of them. What’s interesting is that a crossbite can affect your facial features, creating an almost lopsided look to your mouth and jaw.
What’s the Problem with Having a Crossbite?
So what’s the big deal? As long as you’re not self-conscious about teeth alignment, why does a crossbite matter? What often surprises people is that there can be negative health consequences of a crossbite, and that’s why it shouldn’t be ignored.
Some of the most common issues that a crossbite can cause include:
- Headaches
- Tooth decay
- Pain in teeth and/or jaw
- Pain in neck and shoulder muscles
- Sleep apnea
- Speech issues
- TMJ
All of these can be quite serious, especially if they are happening regularly. As you look at the list of health issues, you’ll find these are chronic, which means unless you address the root cause – the crossbite – these issues won’t go away.
Why Does a Crossbite Happen?
It’s natural to wonder why you’ve developed a crossbite and the answer can relate to several factors. Genetics often play into it, but so do external factors like an abnormal eruption of a permanent tooth, delayed tooth loss when you were a baby, thumb sucking, swallowing disorders, and more.
Use Clear Aligners and Reposition Your Teeth
As for what to do about it, your first instinct may be to get traditional braces. While this can address the issue, braces tend to be costly, they can take a while to get your desired effects, they can be painful, and they are noticeable on your teeth. They can even make things like eating a hassle since food can get stuck in the braces. For many, the better option is a clear aligner.
Clear aligners are molded to your teeth so it’s customized to address your issues. They are worn for 22 hours a day but are taken out when eating, so you don’t have any issues to deal with. Because they are clear they are very discreet, so you don’t have to worry about feeling self-conscious. The way they work is they gently move and realign your teeth so your smile is perfected.
About every 10 days, depending on the company, you will swap out for a new aligner tray since your teeth will be moving so the shape of the tray also changes. Generally speaking, treatment takes about four to six months which is much faster than braces, and they are excellent at addressing crossbites.
Aligners can be worn on the top and bottom, it will be based on your needs. You can check out a company like Aligner32 to get a better idea of how these aligners work. If you don’t like the idea of wearing the aligner for 22 hours a day, you can look into the night plan. This one requires 10 hours of daily wear but treatment will take longer, typically lasting six to eight months.
What If Your Crossbite is Severe?
Clear aligners are a fabulous option for many, but what happens if you’ve been told you have a serious crossbite and clear aligners won’t address it? In these cases, jaw surgery may be recommended. During the procedure, your jaw will need to be reset so it can be aligned properly. It’s also common to require other treatments during recovery, such as braces, to ensure that alignment happens and holds.
Don’t Ignore the Issue
It comes down to the fact that a crossbite is more than just about aesthetics. Sure it is noticeable and may cause your jaw to appear crooked, but because it can lead to so many other health problems it’s not something that should be ignored. Those with a crossbite tend to have a harder time brushing and flossing teeth properly, which means tooth decay and cavities will be the norm for you.
The best solution is to visit your dentist, get advice, and look into ways to address the crossbite so that you can put all these issues behind you. For children, it’s especially important to consult an orthodontist for children early on to prevent further complications.
