If you’re considering straightening your teeth during pregnancy, New Smile invisible aligners are a safe and cost-effective option. Before starting treatment, your dentist will likely advise that x-rays and scans be completed before conception. However, clear aligners can be safely worn throughout pregnancy, as they don’t stress your body or baby and require no medication.
Pregnancy hormones may make your teeth looser than usual, changes to your original orthodontic treatment plan may be necessary. In addition, pregnancy hormones may affect how your body responds to oral bacteria and plaque and cause swollen gums and a bit more discomfort.
If you do wish to get invisible aligners while pregnant, it’s best to begin the treatment about a month before you conceive so that your mouth can have some time to adjust. In the event this is not an option; you should consider starting treatment when morning symptoms are typically no longer present, usually during the second trimester.
Our aligners are BPA free, FDA approved and require no bonding, and are prescribed by our licensed dentists and orthodontists to straighten your teeth. Just remember to keep good oral hygiene by flossing and brushing teeth, cleaning appointments in order to keep your gums and teeth healthy during this time.
We all know someone who was lucky enough to be born with perfectly straight teeth, but that’s far from the norm. Most people experience some degree of crookedness over time, as there are many factors that can cause teeth to crowd or grow in at an angle.
If you have crooked teeth, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, you’re part of the majority, and in many cases there isn’t anything you could have done to prevent it.
We can’t pick our parents, but they have a big role in our lives starting with our genetic makeup. Sometimes poor jaw development or a small mouth are simply inherited (thanks, mom).
A person born with a misaligned jaw may develop irritating underbites, overbites, and crossbites. With an underbite, the lower teeth fall in front of the upper teeth when the mouth and jaw are closed. An overbite means the upper teeth are too far over the lower teeth, and a crossbite involves at least one tooth that is tilting toward either the cheek or tongue.
With the teeth out of position, they tend to stick out. These conditions can also make it difficult to chew and cause headaches.
Being born with a small mouth is another genetic misfortune that can cause our teeth to crowd and move around to make room for each other.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association looks into orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) because they often lead to problems with tongue movement and speech. They define OMDs as “abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth,” such as:
MOUTH BREATHING
TONGUE THRUSTINGIt takes some time for babies to learn how to control their tongues. You’ve probably noticed the way they tend to push out their tongue when they talk, drink, or eat. But if they continue those behaviors for too long, they won’t develop the necessary muscles and bones in their face and mouth.
THUMB SUCKINGWhile sucking on thumbs and fingers has a calming and soothing effect on young children, it can affect teeth alignment. Even pacifiers and bottles can have a negative impact on a child’s teeth if they are used for too long.
When you think of respiratory issues, you probably don’t think about how they impact teeth. But common allergies and asthma can lead to prolonged periods of open-mouth breathing, which contributes to jaw misalignment, incorrect facial development, and crooked teeth.
Any crash, fall, or fight can lead to facial trauma that may cause crooked teeth. Any injury to the jaw or mouth can interfere with your smile, whether you knock out a tooth or knock your jaw out of alignment.
When you lose a tooth, the remaining teeth begin to move into all that new space. This is your body’s way of healing, and it can happen rather quickly. If you are injured in a way that impacts your jaw or teeth, it’s important to see an orthodontist right away. They can help solve the issue before your teeth begin to shift.
Baby teeth need to be kept intact and healthy long enough to allow the permanent teeth to form properly. If your baby teeth come out too early, your permanent teeth may come up crooked and out of place. Trauma or decay can both cause a baby to lose their teeth prematurely.
Fixing crooked teeth is about much more than vanity. It can lead to discomfort and pain. You may even have trouble chewing. Wide gaps and spaces in your gums can also cause gum disease and tooth decay. It becomes more difficult to properly brush and floss when your teeth are unevenly spaced.
If money is holding you back from fixing crooked teeth, you might justify it with the high cost of other medical issues that may arise if they are left out of place. In the long run, treating issues of plaque build up and jaw pain will cost much more than straightening your teeth as soon as possible.
One of our favorite reasons to fix crooked teeth is to give you the confidence to smile. It’s a simple, beautiful expression of joy that too many people miss out on as they try to hide their teeth. Too many children and adults are self-conscious about their teeth. It’s never too late to love your smile and show it off as often as you can.
The great news is that regardless of what caused your crooked teeth, you can correct them. Whether it was your genes, a myofunctional problem, a respiratory issue, or an injury, you deserve to put it behind you and be proud of your smile. Even one crooked tooth is worth fixing if it means a healthier, more confident you.
Depending on how crooked your teeth are, your options include braces, invisible teeth aligners, or even surgery in severe cases. Consulting with an orthodontist can help you decide which option is best.
While many doctors need to take x-rays to properly examine your teeth and jaw alignment, NewSmile™ process skips that step. The first thing we do is send you an impression kit which can be done from home whenever you have the time. It takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and our dental team use the impression to determine how long your treatment will be. From there, we will send you your aligners with instructions on how often to wear them, and you will begin seeing your smile improve.
It’s not always easy to determine what causes crooked teeth, but it’s comforting to know they can always be straightened. If you’re ready to save time and money, and start fixing your crooked teeth without everybody commenting on your braces, choose a NewSmile™ plan today.
Resources
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Orofacial-Myofunctional-Disorders/
Let’s be honest—while watching TV, you’ve probably envied the perfectly straight teeth of actors and actresses. You might also dream of having a smile like that, but feel it’s too costly to achieve. The good news is that a smile with beautifully aligned teeth might not be as expensive or out of reach as you imagine.
We all want straight teeth, but most of us are filled with myths and false information about teeth straightening and we just never get around to it. Here at NewSmile, we’ve dispelled nine common teeth-straightening myths to give you the truth about your smile.
Let’s just put this myth to bed immediately, invisible teeth aligners are cheaper than most other teeth straightening treatments. That means straight teeth are not as expensive or as inaccessible as you previously thought. Teeth aligners are an effective alternative to braces and give you the straighter smile you’ve only been dreaming of until now.
This myth seems to make sense, but orthodontists are not the exclusive purveyors of teeth straightening products. In fact, the whole point of teeth aligners is so you can begin teeth straightening at home.
This myth couldn't be further from the truth! At NewSmile we believe everyone deserves a beautiful smile. About 20% of orthodontic patients are in fact adults.
While complex cases can take time and require an orthodontist, if you’re a candidate for invisible aligners, you could have straighter teeth in less than a year. On average, NewSmile creates 15-20 different aligners which are worn for 2-3 weeks each.
While slight pain might occur for the first couple of days of when you first put on your aligners, you will not have to deal with most of the pain and discomfort that comes with having braces. Teeth aligners are designed for your specific teeth, so they fit snug against them. Braces have brackets, wires, and spacers that can scratch your cheeks and cause soreness, while teeth aligners do not.
Because teeth aligners can be taken out of your mouth, no bracket glue is necessary for straight teeth. Braces can stain your teeth after years of having metal attached to them and being unable to properly brush them, but teeth aligners let you start teeth straightening at home without any of those worries.
Straight teeth are more than a cosmetic thing. In fact, an aligned jaw and straight bite are healthy. With straight teeth, chewing, biting, and speaking are all improved. Teeth straightening is a great choice for a better smile and a healthier lifestyle.
This myth is true! Because you can take your teeth aligners out when it’s time to eat, you never need to worry about breaking your metal brackets on foods or worry about the other stresses included with having things glued onto your teeth.
Not quite. Teeth aligners are created to work conveniently with your day-to-day life, so cleaning and flossing your teeth are much easier than with metal braces. While the aligners don’t add any specific cavity prevention they do make it easier than braces for you to prevent cavities.
Clear aligners offer numerous advantages over traditional braces: they’re virtually invisible, work efficiently to straighten teeth, and often don’t require any dental visits. They blend seamlessly into your daily life, remaining undetectable in photos, so most people won’t even realize you’re wearing them. In fact, years from now, you might forget you ever had them—until you compare how much straighter your smile has become!
Still, wearing clear dental aligners can be an adjustment for some people. They may not be sure of how long to keep aligners on, how much discomfort is normal, or what they can do while wearing them. Here are some tips to help you adjust to aligners in your everyday life:
By following these tips, you’ll be much more prepared to live with clear aligners. Before you know it, you’ll be totally used to wearing them and on your way to a straighter smile. Check out our other blog posts for more information on NewSmile aligners.
When you get braces or aligners, a long list of restrictions often follows. No hard candy, no carbonated drinks, and typically no gum, as these can be tough on your aligners and even worse for your teeth. But gum does have some surprising benefits as well. Here are the best types of gum for your teeth:
Sugarfree Gum
Sugarfree gum is much better for your teeth. Sugar causes cavities, so sugarfree is much healthier. Without sugar, gum is less sticky and less likely to ruin your braces or aligners. As a bonus, sugarfree gum usually has fewer calories too. Some of the best sugarfree gum brands include Pür, XyloBurst, Xylitol, Peppersmith, Glee Gum, and Orbit.
Gum with Xylitol
Generally, you should opt for cinnamon or mint flavors, since sweet and fruit-flavored gum usually contains citric acids that are harsh on your tooth enamel. But if you do have a craving for something sweet, make sure your gum has xylitol as an ingredient. Xylitol is a sweetener from sugar alcohol that has all the flavor and none of the disadvantages.
Gum with the ADA seal
Get gum that has the American Dental Association seal, which means it has been tested for safety and efficacy.
Other benefits of chewing gum
If you get the right kind of gum, you can have a lot of benefits to your oral health. Here are just some of them:
Now that you know what to look for when choosing gum, you can find the best kinds of gum that actually help your teeth and make your mouth healthier. Enjoy all your favorite flavors of gum that will give you better teeth and won’t ruin braces or aligners. To make your smile even better, get aligners from NewSmile™. Learn how our aligners work and what they can do for your smile.
Dental braces have advanced, providing a variety of options for correcting misaligned teeth.
For example, ceramic braces and lingual braces provide an alternative to metal braces, while plastic aligners have revolutionized how teeth straightening can be achieved.
Dental veneers are another alternative to braces, and accelerated orthodontics, with minor surgery, can correct crooked teeth faster than braces alone.
Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of the various ways to straighten teeth and how they compare price-wise.
Is There a Cheaper Alternative to Braces?
Braces aren’t cheap. Metal braces are likely to set you back upwards of $6,000, with ceramic braces and lingual braces costing even more.
Advances in orthodontics have resulted in less conspicuous alternatives to braces. The most popular of these are clear plastic aligners. These have many advantages over traditional braces but are generally more expensive.
This is why many people turn to home teeth straightening, with aligners delivered to your door that cost thousands less than in-office clear aligner treatments, or getting metal/ceramic braces.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Get Braces for Adults?
If you need to get braces on a limited budget, bear in mind that metal braces cost less than ceramic braces or lingual braces, and are effective in rectifying many orthodontic issues. On the downside, metal braces are more noticeable.
There are other ways adults can cut the cost of getting braces. You could try:
Today, the cheapest and safest way to straighten your teeth is to get at-home invisible aligners. Start by having an impression kit sent to you in the mail, from which customised clear aligners can be made for you and delivered to your home.
How Can I Afford Braces for My Child?
You can make the cost of braces for your child more manageable by planning in advance for their orthodontic treatment, so you’re financially prepared for the expenditure when the time comes – or at least have some of the cost covered.
If you have dental insurance, look into the possibility of increasing orthodontic options. Health insurance benefits through work will also cover some of the cost.
It’s advisable to shop around for orthodontic treatment for your child – fees for braces vary from clinic-to-clinic because there are no provincial fee guides for orthodontics, and again, ask whether you can pay in monthly instalments.
If your child is under 14 and you simply cannot afford orthodontic care for them, there may still be a solution. Under a national scheme, local orthodontists can provide treatment for $500 to cover admin costs. Applications are assessed on financial eligibility, based on federal government low-income criteria.
How Do I Get My Insurance to Pay for Invisalign?
Universal health care in Canada doesn’t include any type of orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign, but – as the Canadian Association of Orthodontists (CAO) points out – some dental insurance plans do cover teeth straightening, which can halve the cost.
Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign as well as conventional braces. Your insurance provider may pay a set dollar amount or a percentage of the cost of treatment, but there’s often a lifetime cap on these payments.
The first step in getting your insurance to pay for Invisalign is to contact the provider to confirm they specifically cover Invisalign treatment. If they do, you’ll probably find they don’t pay the dentist directly, so you’ll have to pay upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement.
Ceramic Braces and Lingual Braces
When looking for alternatives to metal braces, you may want to consider ceramic braces or lingual braces.
Ceramic braces are similar in shape and size to their metal counterparts but have clear or tooth-colored brackets that blend in with teeth. Tooth-coloured wires can also be used to make them even less conspicuous. Ceramic braces move teeth faster than plastic aligners but cost more than metal braces. If you don’t take good care of them, they can easily become stained.
Lingual (tongue side) braces are one of the most expensive types of braces. Like ceramic braces, they’re similar to metal braces – but instead of going onto the front of teeth, they’re attached to the back, which keeps them hidden from view. On the downside, lingual braces are hard to keep clean and routine adjustments are difficult, which means lengthy appointments.
Although less discreet than ceramic braces and lingual braces, metal braces remain the most effective option to treat severe teeth overcrowding.
Dental Veneers
The cosmetic dental procedure of choice for Hollywood celebrities, porcelain veneers are tooth-coloured, ultra-thin casings fixed onto the front of teeth to conceal problems such as crowded or gapped teeth, slightly misaligned teeth, or stains and chipping.
Pros of porcelain veneers:
Cons of veneers:
Accelerated Orthodontics
Accelerated orthodontics speeds up teeth straightening with the help of minor surgery. Before your braces are fitted, gum and bone tissue are trimmed and restructured so teeth can be moved into their correct position more easily.
Pros of accelerated orthodontics:
Cons of accelerated orthodontics:
ClearCorrect Aligners
A generally cheaper alternative to Invisalign, ClearCorrect plastic aligners offer similar benefits you can’t get with braces, including:
Disadvantages of ClearCorrect:
Does Pushing Your Teeth Straighten Them?
Braces and aligners move teeth into their correct position by exerting mild, constant pressure that causes jaw bone to soften and reconstruct.
Instead of straightening your teeth, DIY attempts at orthodontics can permanently damage them and cause infection, so don’t be tempted to try braces “hacks” you may come across online. Trying to manually push teeth into place or using elastic bands or string as makeshift orthodontic appliances can seriously jeopardise your oral health.
The only way to safely and effectively straighten your teeth at home is with the help of a reputable home teeth straightening provider, that has passed country-specific health certifications such as Health Canada or the FDA.
Professional Home Teeth Straightening
With professional home teeth straightening – supervised and monitored by dental experts – you get a series of custom-fit invisible aligners delivered to your door. They’re made from a mould of your mouth for a perfect fit.
A key benefit of this system is the greatly reduced cost. For instance, clear plastic aligners from NewSmile® cost about 75 percent less than braces and will save you thousands of dollars compared with in-office aligner treatment.
You’ll also receive:
While regular aligners need to be worn for 22 hours a day for the best results, night aligners are available to straighten your teeth while you sleep, and worn for 10 continuous hours a day.
How Long Does Home Teeth Straightening Take?
Teeth straightening at home with NewSmile® – including a monitoring app to help you keep your treatment on track, with the average treatment time taking just four to six months.
This compares with an average treatment time of two years for braces, and 12 to 18 months with other in-office invisible aligner treatments. Moreover, there are no time-consuming, expensive repeat trips to the dentist or orthodontist.
Is Home Teeth Straightening Safe?
Home aligners shouldn’t be confused with DIY orthodontics without professional dental supervision, which can be extremely dangerous.
In the hands of professionals, straightening your teeth at home is perfectly safe, with dental experts monitoring your treatment and are also available to answer any questions you may have.
If you have concerns about the type of aligners you may get, check that they’re approved by Health Canada.
Is Home Teeth Straightening Suitable for Me?
Home teeth straightening with aligners can correct mild to moderate cases of crooked, gapped or crowded teeth. This makes it an ideal option for individuals looking to straighten their teeth for aesthetic reasons – a fast, convenient and affordable way to get a dream smile. If you have a more serious orthodontic issue, regular braces are likely to be more effective.
A good home teeth straightening company has dental professionals on hand to evaluate your specific case, and will generally offer a free smile assessment to help you make an informed decision on whether at-home teeth straightening is your best alternative to braces.
You’re on your way to a straighter smile with your NewSmile aligners, but the journey comes with its own challenges. Food can be a major culprit, especially when it comes to your teeth. Certain foods can turn your bright white teeth yellow or even gray. Let's explore the worst offenders and share some tips to help you avoid staining. But before we dive into the list of stain-causing foods, let’s go over a few important technical terms.
The food that we eat and liquids that we consume are made up of different components, and there are three substances that are horrible for our teeth; they are acid, chromogens, and tannins. These substances are to blame for stained teeth.
Some of these food products may seem hard to give up altogether and as with everything, moderation is the key. Mind the number of cups of coffee and tea that you drink, try not to go too crazy with the berries during the summer season, and if you are going to drink cola, try to choose sugar-free. A few other things that you could try is:
Love your smile and keep them healthy at the same time. NewSmile is excited to be your partner!
Everyone desires beautiful teeth and a radiant smile, and for many, that’s made possible with teeth aligners like NewSmile. This alternative to traditional braces has become a popular choice for those looking to enhance their smile. However, like any medical treatment, teeth alignment can come with some side effects. Although most patients experience only minor issues, we believe it's important for our customers to have all the information before deciding to choose NewSmile.
One of the major initial issues for many patients is a slight change in their speech. As the patient becomes more comfortable with dental hardware such as aligners or retainers, their speech generally returns to normal. Many patients report a temporary pronounced lisp until they become more accustomed to the aligners.
NewSmile aligners are designed to blend into your mouth and work to correct your smile without anyone knowing. They fit over the top of your teeth and can cause some irritation to the soft tissue in your mouth until you grow accustomed to them. Many patients report biting the inside of their cheeks, resulting in cold sores. If that happens, we recommend rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash to keep the sore clean until it heals.
Besides being nearly invisible, NewSmile aligners are removed when you eat and brush your teeth, which makes eating and cleaning easier. But because the aligners fit snuggly against teeth, it is possible for saliva and bacteria to become trapped in the aligner. Since fresh saliva doesn’t come in contact with your teeth to wash away bacteria and debris when the aligners are on, there is a risk of developing cavities. However on the bright side, this also means that your teeth aren’t likely to stain and become discolored. Braces are actually more likely to stain your teeth than aligners.
Bad breath and dry mouth are two other side effects of the aligners restricting saliva and preventing it from washing away bacteria. These problems are relatively easy to overcome by drinking more water and brushing your teeth more often.
Although rare, some patients develop an allergic reaction to the plastic used in NewSmile aligners. The reaction usually causes a mild irritation of the gums, which should go away. If you do happen to experience this irritation, try soaking your aligners in a glass of water. If after a couple of days the discomfort and pain hasn’t subsided, please contact us at NewSmile.
Some lifestyle choices can impact your NewSmile aligners. Smoking or drinking red wine or coffee can stain the aligners and the adhesive used to attach the NewSmile aligners to your teeth. While the staining doesn’t damage the aligners, it can make them more visible. Most patients choose NewSmile aligners to achieve a better smile without the look of traditional braces.
NewSmile aligners are a practical and affordable way to improve your smile. Though there can be complications with any kind of dental treatment, most NewSmile patients adjust quickly and easily to their aligners. Most patients only experience temporary discomfort like you would expect with any kind of dental hardware. We are confident that our aligners will help you get your smile back without announcing to the world you have braces.
If you have any concerns or questions about NewSmile aligners, please contact us. You can also get a free consultation to see if NewSmile’s plastic aligners are a fit for you. Our dental specialists would love to help you have a great experience and feel confident in your smile.
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Do you have crooked or crowded teeth, or are you unhappy with your smile? You’ve probably considered braces to correct your dental or jaw issues. Traditional metal braces are a popular choice because they offer many advantages.
But just because braces are common doesn’t mean they’re your only option. It’s worth considering other options, because you may be able to straighten your teeth in your home—no appointments, waiting rooms, or “brace face.” With at-home teeth straightening, you can get a perfect smile on your own terms.
If you’re on the fence about teeth straightening at home, it’s worth weighing the benefits to see if an at-home clear aligner treatment is the best choice for you. Read on to learn the benefits of straightening your teeth at home, and how exactly at-home teeth straightening really works.
Benefits of Teeth Straightening at Home
More Affordable Than Braces:
One of the biggest cons about traditional metal braces is the price point. A normal set of braces could easily set you back $7,500 or more, not to mention the money you spend on orthodontist appointments.
Clear aligners are almost always the most affordable way to get a smile you love. NewSmile™'s impression kit, teeth aligners, retainers, and whitening will only cost a fraction with our payment plans. Compared to other teeth-straightening methods, you’ll end up spending about 60% less.
No Trips to the Orthodontist’s Office: Let’s face it—no one likes going to the dentist, or the orthodontist for that matter. Even if you have the nicest dental professional on earth, the sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office can be off-putting, even if you’re just going in for a regular wire-tightening session.
When you choose to straighten your teeth at home, you’ll bypass the stress of keeping orthodontist appointments and spending ages in the waiting room. You can still receive qualified guidance and treatment from NewSmile™ dental professionals, and you can still fix your teeth needs—but you never need to step out your door to do so.
At-Home Clear Aligner Treatment by Dental Professionals:
One considerable benefit of teeth straightening at home is that you’re not sacrificing anything you would receive with traditional metal braces. When you get traditional braces, it’s important to receive advice and guidance from a dental professional throughout your treatment. With NewSmile™ Aligners, your at-home teeth straightening plan is crafted from start to finish by a team of qualified dental professionals.
The NewSmile™ 3D Treatment Preview gives you a flash-forward look at your future smile, as well as an estimate for the length of your treatment. Your entire teeth straightening plan is personalized just for you and approved by board-certified dental staff. And if you have any questions or concerns along the way, you can get helpful advice from those same dental professionals—without needing to schedule or pay for an orthodontist appointment.
How Does At-Home Clear Aligner Teeth Straightening Work?
Step 1: Smile Assessment
At-home teeth straightening may not be possible for everyone. That’s why NewSmile is up-front about our online Smile Assessment, during which you’ll answer a few easy questions about your smile goals and the current state of your teeth. We’ll also ask you to upload a photo of your teeth so that our qualified dental professionals can take a look.
Step 2: Impression Kit
If you’re approved to move forward with at-home teeth straightening, we’ll send you an Impression Kit. In about 30 minutes, you can use our custom putty and trays to make molds of your top and bottom rows of teeth. Using the included shipping label, you’ll then send your molds back to NewSmile.
Step 3: 3D Treatment Preview
Once we receive your teeth molds, we’ll create a 3D Treatment Preview. This will show you how your smile currently looks, and how it will look at the end of your at-home teeth straightening treatment. It's a great way for you to preview every angle of your future smile. You’ll also get an estimate of how long your treatment with NewSmile will take.
Step 4: At-Home Clear Aligners Delivered To You
Once you’ve approved your treatment preview, we’ll send you everything you need upfront: clear aligners, a storage case. All you need to do is stay on top of your treatment, changing aligners every two weeks to keep progressing with your customized plan. Once your treatment plan is completed we will send you a teeth whitening kit.
Step 4: Retainers to Maintain Your Smile
Congratulations, your treatment is all finished up! You’ve now got the smile you’ve been dreaming of—and you didn’t have to visit the orthodontist’s office once. To make sure your smile stays beautiful, we’ll send you retainers to wear at night so your teeth don’t shift.
Should I Straighten My Teeth at Home?
If you're still not sure if straightening your teeth at home is the right choice for you, consider your lifestyle. At-home teeth straightening may be right for you if any of the following situations apply:
Are you lacking confidence in your smile? Do you smile with your mouth closed to avoid letting others see your teeth? Are there a few things you wish you could fix, but you don’t have the desire to pay thousands of dollars or sit through appointments? NewSmile™ is the easiest way to make a change without leaving the comfort of your home.
NewSmile™ was created specifically as an at-home clear aligner teeth straightening solution, and through years of experience, we’ve nailed down the process. Our customers can fix gaps, overcrowding, and other smile needs in a matter of months—without ever having to leave home, and while under qualified dental supervision.
Are you ready for your new smile? Boost your confidence and get a smile you truly love. Complete your Smile Assessment now to get started.
Sources:
https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/braces/how-much-do-braces-cost
Several factors can contribute to having crooked teeth. It might be due to a small mouth, leading to crowding and overlapping teeth. Misaligned upper and lower jaws can result in an overbite, underbite, or jaw protrusion. Genetics can also play a role, as crooked teeth can be inherited from one’s parents.
Regardless of the reason for crooked teeth, it’s important to know how crooked teeth affect health. When teeth are crowded, spaced out, or misaligned, it can become very difficult to clean adequately between them, causing a buildup of plaque and an increased risk of gum disease. These issues can be alleviated by regular dental appointments, but as long as teeth are crooked, oral health problems such as cavities and plaque buildup will continue to crop up.
While crooked teeth are often as healthy as straight teeth, the issues lie between the teeth. When teeth are straight, they are usually evenly spaced out, leaving enough room in between for effective flossing, brushing, and mouth rinsing. But when teeth are crooked, some teeth may be uncomfortably close to others, making it difficult to floss or brush between them. This creates an environment where bacteria thrive.
While it’s important for everyone to feel comfortable with their appearance, crooked teeth can affect more than just self-esteem — they can lead to some serious health problems. When left untreated, crooked teeth can lead to the following:
Cavities: Straight teeth are often easier to clean than crooked teeth, as crooked teeth make it more difficult to reach all of the nooks and crannies of your mouth with a toothbrush and floss. When plaque builds up, it can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and more.
Gingivitis: Gum disease, or gingivitis, can often be caused by crooked teeth. Gingivitis develops when excess bacteria build between the teeth and near the gums, turning into harmful plaque. Gingivitis can be painful, and can accelerate tooth decay and lead to more serious health conditions.
Chewing difficulties: If teeth are severely crooked they can impact the way you bite, chew, and move your jaw. This unnatural jaw movement can put stress on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are involved with opening and closing your mouth. TMJ disorders cause pain in your jaw joints and muscles, and can be difficult and costly to treat.
Enamel damage: When teeth are overcrowded or protruding, they can wear down in places straight teeth would not. This can damage and erode the enamel that protects your teeth. And when enamel is gone, tooth decay can happen quickly and frequently. 
Bad breath: As mentioned above, crooked teeth make it easier for bacteria and plaque to build up between teeth, making it harder to properly clean every inch of your mouth. When these bacteria linger in the mouth, they can cause chronic bad breath, no matter how often you brush and floss your teeth or chew gum.
Self-consciousness: Beautiful, healthy smiles naturally make people feel more confident about their looks. When people are proud of their smiles, they want to show them off — not hide them by smiling with their mouths closed. If a person is embarrassed or self-conscious of their crooked teeth, they may feel awkward in social situations and withdraw from other people.
Overall health risks: Crooked teeth can affect so much more than your breath, self-esteem, or chewing. Dental issues caused by plaque buildup can lead to harmful oral infections, which may lead to serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and pneumonia. It’s important to catch issues like plaque buildup, tooth decay, and cavities before they develop into something more severe.
Having straight teeth is about a lot more than having a beautiful smile and feeling confident. Straight teeth can also mean less negative health effects, as crooked teeth health problems can be common. Besides looking beautiful and boosting confidence, straight teeth allow for better oral hygiene, which can reduce bacteria and plaque buildup, meaning less cavities.
If you’re taking the time to read this blog post, you’re probably already thinking about how to straighten your crooked teeth. The good news is that today’s technology and dental advancements have made it possible for anyone to get the smile they love in a way that feels comfortable.
Metal braces are well-known as the customary solution to crooked teeth, but they’re not the only option anymore. People wanting straighter teeth don’t have to suffer through painful metal brackets, awkward smiles, and frequent orthodontist appointments. Instead, adults and teens alike can use clear aligners, which are virtually invisible and offer the same benefits of traditional metal braces.
Clear aligners are a popular alternative to metal braces. They gradually straighten crooked teeth over time, and can even be taken out when you eat, drink, and brush your teeth. Clear aligners are a great solution for those who want to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile without committing to the time and expense of traditional braces.
One of the greatest things about modern technology is that you have more options than ever before with your dental care. Now, you can customize your orthodontic treatment to better fit your lifestyle and schedule. With NewSmile™ you don’t even have to leave your house to fix your crooked teeth. You won’t have any trips to the orthodontist’s office, and you won’t have to pay nearly as much as you would for traditional braces.
If you are feeling less than confident about your crooked teeth, NewSmile™ is here to help. Our at-home teeth straightening allows people to fix crooked teeth, gaps, overcrowding, and more in a matter of months.
If you’re ready to fix your crooked teeth, improve your oral health, and boost your confidence, get started with your NewSmile™ Smile Assessment. Your beautiful smile is just a few steps away.
Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/crooked-teeth-misaligned-bites#1
Maintaining good dental health is crucial, and brushing and flossing are essential habits for keeping your mouth clean and healthy. These practices help remove harmful bacteria in plaque that can irritate your gums and prevent gum disease. If plaque is left on your teeth, it can harden into tartar, which traps bacteria and leads to inflammation and gingivitis.
With a few simple habits, keeping your gums healthy and clean is easy to do. While heredity can play a role in gum disease, most people can avoid it by simply taking special effort to care for your gums.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day will help keep your mouth healthier. Use a soft bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. An electric toothbrush is a good option and you should plan to replace your toothbrushes every three to four months. When you’re done brushing, be sure to allow your toothbrush to dry out. This will make it harder for bacteria to flourish on your toothbrush.
Flossing is often overlooked, but it is instrumental for good dental health. By adopting a brushing/flossing regimen, you can get the maximum benefit from floss. Some toothpaste on the floss might help get toothpaste between the teeth, especially in tight spaces, but the main benefit from flossing comes from the floss itself.
Although food doesn’t generally stay in our mouths long, the foods we eat can have an impact on our dental health. Calcium-rich foods like dairy products can help strengthen the bone and enamel of your teeth. Leafy greens are also great for your dental health because they are packed with tons of vitamins and minerals. Also, since veggies are fibrous and require more chewing and saliva to break down, they help strip away bacteria in your mouth.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but visiting the dentist regularly can be one of the best defenses against gum disease. Your dentist can spot problems in your mouth faster than you might notice the symptoms as they get worse. It’s always easier to treat a problem in the earlier stages than to wait until it’s fully flared up.
Smoking is bad for your health in lots of different ways and has been linked to gum disease as well. Cigarettes weaken your immune system which can make it harder for your body to fight gum disease. The damage caused by cigarettes can also make it more difficult for gums to heal.
Mouthwash adds an extra layer of protection for your gums because it helps reduce plaque and reduce the spread of tartar. Rinsing after you eat is a good idea because it helps wash away food particles and debris from your mouth. This can’t take the place of proper brushing and flossing, but it certainly helps make them more effective.
All toothpaste is created equal, right? No! Toothpaste should contain fluoride to benefit your dental health. Look for a brand that has the American Dental Association seal of approval on it.
As you can see, keeping your gums healthy is important for your overall dental health. There are many different things that can have an impact on keeping your gums healthy, like the food you eat, how often you brush and floss, and how often you visit the dentist. At NewSmile™, we know how important your mouth’s health is. Keep your gums healthy and fall in love with your smile again!
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