Breathing
Persistent mouth breathing is often directly connected with the position of the teeth and jaws.
Diagnosis and correction of misaligned teeth and jaws
Misaligned teeth and jaws can create niches for deposits that are accessible neither to the natural cleaning effect of saliva nor to daily oral hygiene. The result is an increased risk of caries and periodontal disease.
Jaw misalignments that prevent the teeth from biting together correctly also lead to an impaired biting and chewing function. A possible consequence is difficulty eating, accompanied by digestive problems.
An uneven load on individual teeth or groups of teeth can lead to inflammation of the periodontium, to tipping teeth or even to complaints in the jaw joint.
In addition to the functional limitations, many misalignments are also perceived as aesthetically disturbing – often it is the patient who wishes for a correction of the teeth or jaws.
How to recognise a misalignment
Possible impairments
Misaligned teeth and jaws frequently have effects that reach far beyond the mouth.
Speech
Speech difficulties such as a lisp can be the result of a misalignment.
Jaw joint and ear
Pain in the jaw joint or in the ear – tinnitus, for example – occurs more frequently when the bite is disturbed.
Headaches
Headaches, up to and including migraine, can be connected with an unbalanced bite.
Neck and back
Tension in the neck and back as well as a curvature of the spine are possible consequences.
Caries and periodontitis
Niches that are difficult to clean noticeably increase the risk of caries and of diseases of the periodontium.
The aim: function and aesthetics in harmony
Whether treatment is necessary is something we clarify in an initial orthodontic examination. In doing so we look not only at the position of the individual teeth, but at the interplay of teeth, jaws, jaw joints and muscles.
If a misalignment is recognised early, it can usually be corrected with comparatively simple means. Do get in touch – we are happy to assess your situation.
The key facts at a glance
- Misalignments create niches that neither saliva nor toothbrush can reach – this increases the risk of caries and periodontitis.
- A disturbed bite can make biting off and chewing more difficult.
- Possible accompanying symptoms are mouth breathing, lisping, jaw joint pain and headaches as well as tension in the neck and back.
- Unevenly loaded teeth can tip; the periodontium can become inflamed.
- An initial orthodontic examination clarifies whether treatment is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell whether my child needs braces?
Noticeable signs are, for example, crowded or rotated teeth, a gap between the rows of teeth when biting together, a clearly protruding upper or lower jaw, permanent mouth breathing or a lisp. Only an orthodontic examination gives certainty, however, because many misalignments are hardly visible from the outside.
Are braces purely a matter of appearance?
No. Misalignments create niches that are difficult to clean and therefore increase the risk of caries and diseases of the periodontium. Biting off food, chewing and the load on the jaw joints can be affected as well.
Can headaches come from the teeth?
An unbalanced bite can be linked to headaches, jaw joint complaints, noises in the ear or tension in the neck. Whether that is the cause in an individual case can only be assessed after a functional examination – we are happy to look into this together with you.
What happens if a misalignment is not treated?
The niches that are hard to clean remain, and individual teeth continue to be loaded unevenly. That can encourage inflammation of the periodontium, tipping teeth or jaw joint complaints. As a rule, the earlier a misalignment is detected, the simpler the correction.