How to Check Yourself For Bite Problems
The way your teeth fit together when you bite is called occlusion. Malocclusion, otherwise known as a “bad bite” can happen at any point in a person’s life so it’s important to keep a close watch on how your teeth are working. Here are some ways you can quickly figure out if you have a bite problem.
Sensitive Teeth
When you chew your food, everything should feel comfortable. Whether it’s a single touchy tooth or a few in a row, don’t rationalize any pain when you are eating. Sensitive teeth can be caused by a number of dental troubles but we often see recession, fractures thin spots on enamel directly caused by a bite that is misaligned.
A Sore Jaw
If you’ve ever noticed jaw tenderness or muscle spasms after a night’s rest, you may be experiencing one of the classic symptoms of a bite problem. Ideal tooth engineering usually means that your jaw can rest comfortably but when the jaw muscles on the right and left side of your face don’t work well together, it could lead to nighttime grinding.
Teeth and Fillings That Break
Have you noticed that your fillings don’t last very long or that you continue to chip natural teeth? In a healthy situation, your molars will be doing most of the work. When other teeth around them get too much stress, eventually they start to deteriorate. No matter how many times a dentist tries to patch a broken tooth, if your bite isn’t well adjusted, even the most expensive dental work won’t stand a chance.
Flat Spots
Open wide and take a close look at the chewing edges of your teeth. Do you notice square or flat shiny spots? Are the tips of your teeth worn down? Certainly some people can’t even tell if this wear and tear is happening but if you can see these problem areas, you might have a serious problem on your hands. When the extremely hard outer shell of your tooth wears down, the softer inside layers will decay and break down more quickly.
Crooked Teeth
Last but not least, teeth that are moving out of place are also a sign that your bite isn’t ideal. As nice as it is to have a pretty smile, we are more concerned about the chronic pain and tooth loss that can come from teeth getting out of alignment.
These are just a few of the more obvious signs that your bite isn’t well adjusted. The best way to find subtle changes is to see a dentist that specialized in detecting and resolving bite related problems. Remember, this is one of the most common and untreated dental issues we see. Our office understands how important a bite analysis can be for the future of your teeth. We are here to help you have the most beautiful and comfortable smile possible and have several treatment options for making that happen for you.
