Proper occlusion, or the alignment of the teeth and jaws, plays a pivotal role in dental and overall health. While it’s easy to think that crooked teeth only affect your smile, the truth is far more complex. According to our dentist in Sacramento, misaligned teeth have far-reaching consequences, affecting the musculoskeletal, respiratory, digestive, and even the nervous system.
Understanding how your bite affects your overall well-being is crucial to a healthy body and lifestyle. So, talk to Timothy E. Mickiewicz, D.D.S., to see how your smile could be affecting your health and quality of life. Call (916) 469-9178 to schedule a consultation with our five-star dentist in Sacramento, CA, now.
In a recent video created by our very own dentist in Sacramento, Dr. Mickiewicz details the consequences of force distribution in malocclusions. In this video, you’ll learn exactly how malocclusions occur and how they affect the entire body.
Don’t have time to watch the entire video? No problem! Here, our dentist in Sacramento breaks down the pertinent details in this tell-all blog.
The Role of Maxilla and Mandible Development in Occlusions
How the upper and lower jaws develop dictates how teeth erupt into the oral cavity. An underdeveloped or ill-formed maxilla (upper jaw) or mandible (lower jaw) can lead to crooked, crowded teeth.
Indeed, when the maxilla and mandible are too narrow, emerging teeth have to fight for space in the mouth, causing malocclusions. This can trigger significant issues with the way that our teeth interact with each other, leading to irregular force distribution when chewing or speaking.
Over time, the shear force of dental misalignments causes functional issues, which may result in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, as well as other systemic issues.
There is also a risk of structural issues, as misaligned teeth can place undue stress on some teeth while other teeth go unburdened. This can result in breaks, chips, general wear and tear, and sensitivity.
How Occlusion Impacts Overall Health
The alignment of teeth goes far beyond aesthetics – it significantly impacts every aspect of overall health. Our dentist in Sacramento explains here:
Respiratory Health
A misaligned bite can disrupt the natural airflow in our airways, potentially leading to obstructions and sleep disturbances, like sleep apnea.
These disruptions in respiration lead to poor blood oxygenation, which can leave our internal and external organs starved for O₂. As a result, the body must work overtime to keep up with systemic demands.
Compromised airways are particularly critical in children, as they often result in mouth breathing. Mouth breathing, in turn, can hinder proper jaw development, contributing to poor muscle tone in the face and affecting overall facial symmetry.
Digestive Health
Malocclusions can profoundly impact chewing and digestion. When teeth are misaligned, chewing becomes significantly less efficient. Indeed, proper chewing is essential for initiating the digestive process, ensuring that food particles are sufficiently broken down before entering the stomach.
When teeth inefficiently break down food, the digestive system struggles to process its contents appropriately. This can result in digestive issues such as bloating, indigestion, and nutrient malabsorption.
Musculoskeletal Health
Beyond the direct respiratory and digestive impacts, poor occlusion can also lead to postural problems. When the jaw is misaligned, the body compensates by adjusting its posture to accommodate the misalignment.
This compensation often results in chronic neck and back pain, as the muscles and bones throughout the spine and neck area are forced to adapt to an unnatural position.
The implications of misalignment extend beyond localized discomfort. When teeth and jaws cannot rest in a natural, functional position due to crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, the entire musculoskeletal system must adapt. This adaptation leads to widespread dysfunction throughout the body, which cannot be resolved through stretching or exercise alone.
Neurological Health
According to our dentist in Sacramento, crooked teeth can affect the nervous system, leading to long-term neurological and mental health problems.
In fact, a 2022 medical review states that misaligned teeth may directly affect the sensorimotor cortex of the brain, which could explain the link between malocclusions and certain diseases, like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and anxiety disorders.
Heart Health
Poor dental alignment can lead to chronic inflammation in the gums and surrounding tissues (periodontal disease). Periodontal disease has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of the arteries) and heart disease.
That’s right – our dentist in Sacramento says that chronic inflammation in the gums due to malocclusions can promote systemic inflammation, which in turn contributes to the development and progression of cardiovascular conditions.
The Importance of Early Orthodontia
As our dentist in Sacramento described earlier, maxillary and mandibular development is key to proper tooth eruption and bite-force distribution. This means that identifying and fixing developmental inadequacies in maxillary and mandibular development is a must, and there’s no better time for remediation than when we are in our youth.
Starting around age six or seven, our permanent teeth descend into our mouths. But if they don’t have enough room, they tend to bunch together in unnatural ways. It is ideal, therefore, to ensure the upper and lower jaws have enough space to accommodate adult teeth. That’s where early orthodontia comes in.
Typically termed ‘phase one treatment,’ early orthodontic intervention helps developing dental arches expand and conform to ideal configuration. In turn, this ensures that teeth erupt properly, helping to keep force distribution balanced among the teeth and jaws. This balance prevents functional and structural issues, leading to better oral and overall health.
The Holistic Approach to Straight Teeth
Correcting occlusion-related dysfunction and associated pain requires a comprehensive approach.
Orthodontic treatment, such as braces or aligners, helps to align teeth properly within the dental arch, restoring functional occlusion.
Additionally, myofunctional therapy plays a crucial role in retraining oral and facial muscles, promoting proper tongue posture and nasal breathing over mouth breathing.
This holistic approach not only addresses the immediate dental issues but also aims to restore balanced muscle function and alleviate systemic musculoskeletal strain.
Address Crooked Teeth with a Dentist in Sacramento, CA
By correcting misalignments and promoting proper jaw development, our dentist in Sacramento can mitigate the risk of respiratory issues, chronic pain, digestive problems, and musculoskeletal dysfunction, ultimately supporting long-term health and well-being.
For a healthier mouth and body, contact Timothy E. Mickiewicz, D.D.S., in Sacramento, CA, at (916) 469-9178 or request an appointment on our website here.
