Many people get braces at a young age to correct their bite.

But if you never had braces and your bite still feels a bit “off,” it’s worth looking into.

If you have a balanced bite, your upper and lower teeth should come in contact at the same time, and your facial muscles should be relaxed. Those are the marks of a good bite.

A good bite is just important at age 50 as it is at age 15. A misaligned bite can cause problems with chewing, jaw pain, crowded teeth, headaches, and many other problems.

The Truth About Your Bite

In an ideal world, your teeth and jaw joints work together in perfect harmony. But when this delicate balance is upset, problems begin to form.

Not everyone has a bite problem, of course. And many bite problems are so minor that you might never notice them. Your dentist may never notice them, either.

If that’s the case and you’re still attending regular dental checkups, you should be fine.

But, if you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite, it might be time to look into correcting it.

Your chewing muscles are powerful. They generate amazing force as your teeth come together. If your bite is off kilter, it can pass that force onto the teeth that touch first– and that creates problems.

If left untreated, a bad bite can loosen teeth, cause teeth to fall out, cause sore ligaments, fracture your teeth, contribute to a receding gum line, cause painful or clicking jaw joints, and lead to agonizing headaches and neck pain.

How We Can Help

Fortunately, correcting a bad bite isn’t difficult, especially with today’s technology.

Sometimes, your dentist can simply remove the “high spots” on your teeth and fillings, which is easy and painless. Braces are another great option for some patients, regardless of age. Braces are both simple and effective.

A good bite helps you:

• Improve your smile
• With chewing, digestion, and speech
• Prevent unnecessary strain on your jaws, teeth, and facial muscles
• Avoid biting your lip, cheeks, and tongue
• Avoid abnormal tooth wear, jaw pain, headaches, and tooth fractures

If you’ve been having problems because your bite is feeling a bit “off,” come see us. We can help you develop the perfect bite in the easiest, most effective way possible.

~Dr. Marea White