Effects of a Bad Bite
The term “Bad Bite” refers to any orthodontic issues that affects the quality of your “bite” – your ability for the top of your teeth to bite down correctly on your bottom teeth. The same issues that affect the look of your smile are also the ones that affect your bite, including:
- Crowded Teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Malocclusion
- Crossbite
These are only some of the issues that make teeth look “crooked” and also the same issues that affect whether your upper teeth and your lower teeth connect properly in order to give you a “good bite.”
When the average person sees a bad bite, they see teeth that aren’t straight. You may be shy about your smile or self-conscious about the way you look. But for orthodontists, what we see is a higher risk for “bad bite” related issues, including:
- Tooth Pain and Sensitivity
- Wearing Down of Enamel
- Risk of Tooth Nerve Death
- Headaches
- Sore Jaw
- Receding Gum Lines
- Inflammation and Damage to Jaw Joints
- Radiating Pain in the Head and Neck
These are only a few of the many issues that are caused by teeth that do not bite properly. With so many nerves, muscles, and joints dependent on proper bites, a bad bite can quickly become a more serious problem.