6 Reasons Why Correcting An Overbite is Important

Are you dealing with debilitating headaches and jaw pain, struggling with speech impediments, or simply lacking self-confidence because of your overbite? 

If you’re nodding your head, then chances are you already have all the reasons to seek treatment for correcting an overbite. So, what are you waiting for? 

The longer that an overbite is left unattended, the more damage to your teeth, gums, and even facial structure, will occur. 

Check out these six reasons about the importance of correcting an overbite and take action today.

Check This Out: How to Choose Right Dental Plans

1. Prevent Difficulty Speaking and Chewing

People who have a severe overbite likely find that they have difficulty chewing their food correctly. This makes the action of eating uncomfortable and may lead to an avoidance of certain foods.

Chewing with an overbite leads to a lot of accidental lip, tongue, and gum biting. Which results in painful lesions in the mouth.

Another reason why overbite correction is important is to correct speech impediments or an over-articulation of certain words. For example, a lisp is a common speech impediment caused by overbites. 

It’s especially important to take measures to correct an overbite at an early age for this reason. It’s much more difficult for adults to re-learn the correct pronunciation of words and long-term speech therapy will be necessary. 

Addressing overbites in children early will allow for quick correction of speech impediments. Learn more about correcting an overbite with Invisalign for kids here. 

2. Avoid Tooth Wear and Gum Damage

The importance of correcting an overbite extends to long-term damage and wear and tear of your teeth and gums. 

Firstly, a severe overbite makes it difficult to adequately clean your teeth and gums. Over time, this will lead to a build-up of plaque, tooth decay, gum disease, and possible tooth loss if left unattended. 

If you have an overbite, most of your teeth are misaligned. This causes unnecessary wear on your teeth as they rest and hit in places that they normally wouldn’t.

The enamel which acts as Armor on your teeth will begin to wear. Without this protective enamel, your teeth are vulnerable to cavities and gum disease. 

Lastly, if you have a deep overbite then it’s likely that your lower front teeth are making contact with the gum line at the back of your upper front teeth. The same goes for your upper front teeth making contact with the gum line of your lower front teeth. 

Over time, this leads to gum recession, gum disease, and tooth loss. 

3. A Solution to Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Are you embarrassed to sleep in the same room as other people because of your snoring? It’s not your fault — it’s your overbite’s fault which you can fix!

An overbite and a recessed jaw often go hand-in-hand. This is when you have a receding chin that developed due to an overbite. The recessed jaw may pinch your airways while you sleep, causing your throat tissues to vibrate — otherwise known as snoring. 

In more serious cases, the overbite may cause a blockage of the airway while you sleep, otherwise known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is not to be taken lightly, as it can be a serious sleep disorder that causes your breathing to stop and start while you sleep. 

Correcting your overbite may help with snoring and sleep apnea as it corrects the alignment of your jaw and should prevent the pinching of the airway. So, a peaceful night is in store for you and everyone else. 

4. Relieve Jaw Pain

As mentioned above, an overbite is sometimes caused by the shape, size, or alignment of the jaw. If your jaw is misaligned, you may experience serious and chronic jaw pain. 

This is often not an isolated pain. It often leads to headaches as well as neck pain, and ear pain. You may also experience some dysfunctions of the jaw such as clicking, stiffness, and popping.

This affects your quality of life in a big way. Why live with chronic pain when correcting an overbite can relieve you of the suffering?

5. Correct Facial Structure

If left unattended, your overbite could change the structure of your entire face. This is yet another reason why overbite correction is so important and should be addressed as early as possible.

This is true especially for those who have an overbite due to a forward-thrusting upper jawbone. This creates an overall rounder appearance in your face as your chin and cheekbones are not very pronounced. 

Correcting your overbite could give you a more pronounced jawline. 

6. Gain Confidence

Last, but certainly not least, it’s important to learn to love your smile again. If you find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh, remaining tight-lipped in photographs, or feeling self-conscious about your appearance, then it’s time to take action. 

Correcting your overbite can help you feel confident and beautiful — it can help you smile again. If you’re wondering how to correct an overbite, there are a couple of different options. Do your research, choose the right treatment for you and take back your confidence. 

Correcting an Overbite Will Improve Your Quality of Life

Perhaps you’re intimidated by the thought of braces or other treatments, and that’s what has stopped you from correcting an overbite you have. But there’s no doubt that your quality of life will improve drastically if you seek treatment. Say goodbye to pain, difficulty chewing, and gum decay. Say hello to a beautiful smile. 

Did you enjoy this post? Our site is full of awesome health-related content — keep exploring for more!