Your oral health is made up of several key components: strong teeth, healthy gums, and properly functioning jaw joints. There is one thing that can support all three of these at once: a balanced and harmonious bite.
When your bite is healthy, your teeth come together in a way that prevents unnecessary stress on any part of your mouth. This keeps everything working smoothly, which supports your overall dental health and helps protect your smile for the long term.
WHAT MAKES A HEALTHY BITE?
A healthy bite is when your upper and lower teeth fit together properly when you chew or close your mouth. Proper alignment between a top and bottom tooth means that they fit together like puzzle pieces with several points of contact that evenly distribute the pressure across the tooth.
For a full arch of teeth, a healthy bite is when no single tooth is under more pressure than the others, and your teeth, gums, and jaw all work together in harmony. A full set of teeth is required to create a healthy bite, as every missing chewing surface puts more pressure on the neighboring teeth.
There are many issues that can cause disharmony in your bite, including:
Crooked teeth
Crowded teeth
Missing teeth
Teeth that have become worn down
Fractured or broken teeth
Dental restorations that do not fit properly
Shifting teeth due to gum disease or other issues
Naturally, your bite will change throughout your lifetime. So even if you have had orthodontic teeth straightening in the past, your teeth will drift slightly over time and you may need teeth straightening as an adult to reset your alignment.
Now that you understand what a healthy bite is, lets look at how an imbalanced bite can affect your oral health.
HOW CAN BITE DISHARMONY AFFECT YOUR TEETH?
When your bite is out of balance, it can lead to excessive wear and tear on your teeth. For example, if one part of a tooth hits harder than another, the enamel may become worn down. Teeth can even crack or break from uneven pressure. In severe cases, bite problems can damage the nerves of your teeth, causing sensitivity or even tooth loss.
Worn-down enamel, cracks, and chips can make it hard to eat comfortably and may cause severe and disruptive pain. Bite issues also tend to cause grinding and clenching, which can cause even more pressure and a cycle of damage that can be hard to correct.
HOW TO BITE PROBLEMS AFFECT YOUR GUMS?
Your gums can also suffer from an imbalanced bite. When certain teeth experience too much pressure, the pressure can irritate the surrounding gum tissue, leading to inflammation or gum recession. Gum recession exposes the roots of your teeth, which can cause discomfort and increase the risk of cavities or infection. Protecting your bite can help keep your gums healthy and free from damage.
On the flip side, gum disease can also lead to bite disharmony. Gum disease can frequently cause teeth to shift out of proper alignment. Gum disease is also the number one cause of tooth loss, which we have already established causes bite issues and further damage if left untreated.
CAN JAW PROBLEMS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF A BAD BITE?
Yes, an improper bite can put stress on your jaw joints, which are called temporomandibular joints (TMJ). Over time, this stress can lead to pain, clicking or popping sounds when you open your mouth, and even difficulty chewing or speaking.
Another side effect of an improper bite is that it can contribute to a condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which can cause chronic pain and discomfort.
There are many ways bite problems can strain or even damage your jaw joints. When your teeth don not meet properly, they don not have a stable resting position. So, your lower jaw will tend to move, looking for a place to rest. This manifests as grinding and clenching habits, also called bruxism, which is a major cause of TMD.
As bite problems go untreated and the teeth become worn down, your jaw will also need to move farther to close your teeth together. In severe cases, this is called a collapsed bite. Overclosure or a collapsed bite can damage the ligaments, joint capsule, and even the shape of the bone in your jaw joints and cause severe pain and loss of function.
As you can see, a healthy bite is critical for your long-term oral health and comfortable jaw function. So, what should you do if your bite is uneven? Drs. Kathleen and Bryant Anderson provide comprehensive solutions for bite problems, including TMJ treatment in Winter Park, FL.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE YOUR BITE HEALTH AND IMPROVE YOUR SMILE?
At Anderson Family Dental, we offer several treatments to help improve your bite and protect your smile:
Properly aligning your teeth is a conservative way to improve how your teeth meet and create a healthy, balanced bite. Our clear aligners can straighten your teeth and correct bite issues without the need for metal braces, making them ideal for adults. This is an excellent option if you have had braces before but the position of your teeth has relapsed over time.
Equilibration and occlusal adjustments
Even if your teeth are well-aligned, there may be areas where your bite hits a little too heavily. Equilibration is a process of balancing your bite by gently reshaping certain teeth to ensure they fit together properly. Occlusal adjustments are a key part of many dental treatments, including routine fillings, to ensure they fit your bite perfectly.
If your teeth have been worn down or broken, we can restore them with crowns, which can rebuild lost enamel. This can help to restore a healthy height to your bite to relieve overclosure. Dental crowns also protect and strengthen the tooth, which can prevent further damage from cracks that may be developing.
Missing teeth can throw your bite off balance but replacing them with dental implants or bridges can restore function and harmony to your mouth. Replacing missing teeth makes it easier and more comfortable to eat and chew, and restores the aesthetics of your smile.
By addressing bite issues early, we can help you maintain a healthy, comfortable smile for years to come. If you're concerned about your bite, don't hesitate to reach out to our team at Anderson Family Dental in Winter Park, FL!
Dr. Bryant Anderson, DMD
Dr. Bryant Anderson knew from a young age that he wanted to become a dentist. He studied Biology and Chemistry at Utah Valley University. He continued his education at the University of Florida College of Dentistry earning his Doctorate in Dental Medicine. As a top-ranking graduate in his dental class, Dr. Bryant Anderson was inducted into the dental honor society OKU. READ MORE