Overbites, underbites, crossbites and crowding all affect how your teeth work and look. Here’s what crooked teeth can lead to:
- Gum disease. Crooked teeth are hard to clean, so plaque and bacteria build up in hard-to-reach spots. Straight teeth are easier to clean and less at risk.
- TMJ disorder. Crooked teeth can throw off jaw alignment, causing severe headaches, jaw pain, lockjaw and grinding.
- Tooth injury. Straight teeth form a strong wall. Crooked teeth are weaker and often stick out, so they’re more easily injured.
- Uneven wear. Crooked teeth make some teeth work harder than others. Straight teeth share the load.
How teeth are straightened
- Braces are fixed to the front or back of the teeth for a set time, adjusted regularly and removed when treatment is done. They work for most types of malocclusion.
- Aligning trays are fully removable and used for less severe cases where teeth need to move a shorter distance. They’re replaced every few weeks and are equally effective.