Common Teeth Issues

The most common issues most people have with their teeth include:

• Crowded teeth
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites
• Gap teeth
• Open bites
• Crooked teeth

Crowded Teeth 

Overcrowding of teeth is a common issue in most people. Overcrowding happens when you don’t have enough room in your mouth for your teeth to grow straight. 

Many children often get overcrowding as their adult teeth are growing in. Since they’re too young for extractions or major orthodontic work, they often wait until the majority of their adult teeth are fully grown to fix such issues. 

Signs of crowded teeth include teeth growing in front of or behind one another. Other signs include:

• Teeth overlapping each other
• Crooked teeth
• Biting the cheeks or tongue
• Misaligned teeth
• Mouth breathing
• Jaw or tooth pain
• Speech impediments
• Asymmetrical face shapes

How to Fix Overcrowding of Teeth

Once the mouth becomes overcrowded, it’s a bit trickier to fix the situation. Some of the most common ways to fix overcrowding include:

• Extractions
• Braces, retainers, and clear aligners
• Tooth reshaping
• Jaw surgery

Overbites

An overbite is when the teeth of the top jaw overlap over the teeth of the bottom jaw (ideally, the teeth should sit flush on both the top and bottom jaws).

Are Overbites Bad?

While overbites themselves may not be inherently ‘bad’, they can often lead to more serious dental issues, including:

• Difficulty chewing
• Jaw problems
• Pain
• Gum issues

Correcting an Overbite

The good news is that correcting overbites is pretty simple and straightforward. Some of the most common ways to treat this condition include:

• Braces
• Clear aligners
• Nighttime aligners
• Retainers

Underbites

Much like an overbite, an underbite is an overlapping of the bottom and top teeth — except underbites happen when the bottom teeth overlap the top teeth. The treatment for an underbite is nearly identical to an overbite (though not every patient is different, so your treatment might not be the same as someone else’s).

The most common ways to treat an underbite include:

• Braces
• Clear aligners
• Nighttime aligners
• Retainers

Crossbites

Crossbites happen when the teeth do not bite down together at the right angle. This generally happens when the teeth on the top or bottom jaw aren’t properly aligned. The teeth on the upper jaw can cross in front of or behind the teeth of the bottom jaw.

At What Age Should a Crossbite Be Corrected?

Orthodontists agree that crossbites should ideally be corrected between the ages of 8 and 11. This way, the other teeth have space to grow, and the child’s bite won’t be thrown off any further than it already is.

Crossbites can often lead to other oral conditions, such as jaw pain, bite issues, cheek and tongue biting, and gum problems.

Fixing these problems early on can prevent future teeth conditions.

How Do You Fix a Crossbite in Adults?

Many kids with crossbites don’t get treatment until they reach the teenage years — or often until adulthood. 

If you were one of those kids that suffer from a crossbite and never got treatment, don’t worry. There’s plenty you can do as an adult to fix childhood issues and stop suffering from oral pain. Some of the most common ways to treat crossbites in adults include:

• Braces
• Clear aligners
• Jaw widening

How to Fix Your Gap Teeth

Most of us have suffered from a gap or overcrowding in our lives. In fact, about 20% of the population has gap teeth. While the social stigma of gap teeth is generally gone (models and actors all have gap teeth these days), the jaw pain and gum issues from this condition can still happen.

How Do I Fix a Gap Between My Teeth?

The most common ways to fix a gap between teeth include:

• Clear aligners
• Tooth bonding
• Veneers
• Crowns
• Implants

Of course, the most painless (and cost-effective solution) is clear aligners. While teeth bonding, veneers, crowns, and implants can feel like an easy fix, they can often take weeks to months to feel comfortable and to heal properly. 

Clear aligners can fix the gaps between teeth in as little as four months (depending on the severity of the gap).

Open Bites

Open bites are when the front top and bottom teeth do not touch. This can cause chewing and biting issues. It’s most common in children who suck their fingers or thumbs or have other oral fixations.

Causes of Open Bites

Open bites are generally caused by the tongue pushing on the front teeth. Since the tongue is a muscle, it can slowly alter the shape of the teeth if it pushes against it too much. Other causes of open bites include the:

• Tongue pushing on the front teeth
• TMJ or teeth grinding
• Oral fixations (such as biting pens or sucking on objects)

Treating Open Bites

Good news! Treating open bites is super easy. The most common treatment for this condition is clear aligners. 

Not only are clear aligners more comfortable than other types of treatments, but they’re also less expensive and only need to be worn for a few months before you start seeing your bite corrected. 

General Teeth Straightening

Some teeth are simply just… crooked. No if, and, or buts about it. If your teeth are crooked but don’t fall into one of the above categories, you’re not alone. 

You’re probably also pretty lucky, too, because most people who have a few crooked teeth simply need to opt for clear aligners or retainers to fix the issues. In fact, you’re probably one of the best candidates for clear aligners, as you won’t need to worry about treating other gum and jaw issues with surgery or jaw widening before getting your treatment.

If you’re frustrated with crooked teeth and need your smile straightened, contact a company that specializes in at-home clear aligners.