Our teeth are our prized possessions. One of the first things we notice about someone is their smile. Nothing can beat a pearly white smile with nice, straight teeth. Yet, complications can occur. It’s true that some people put little time into caring for their teeth. Believe it or not, not caring for your teeth can put you at a higher risk for heart disease. That’s why it’s no joke if you begin noticing some differences with your teeth. So what are a few warning signs that your teeth might need some type of braces?

1- Pain

Tooth pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you have a cavity, or maybe you accidentally cut your gums eating food. Yet, there are some more serious reasons you might need to address. Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can cause complications with your teeth that need to be addressed by an orthodontics service. While teeth grinding can happen at any time, it primarily occurs at night time when you’re sleeping. You might wake up with a sore jaw and a splitting headache. If you begin noticing pain in the teeth or neck, or begin experiencing headaches in the morning, you could be suffering from bruxism. If you don’t treat it, the pain can last for a long time.

2- Crowding Teeth

It’s estimated that for every ten people, nine of them are suffering from crowded or misaligned teeth, even if minimal. You might be thinking to yourself that because it’s such a common problem people encounter that there’s no reason to be concerned. However, there is a multitude of reasons to be worried about crowded teeth. Crowded teeth are more difficult to care for, which can cause plaque to build up more easily. Also, crowded teeth always have the potential to become more crowded. Basically, your teeth could become even more crooked. There is a strong likelihood that an orthodontist can solve this problem by giving you braces.

3- Jaw Misalignment

There are a few different causes of a misaligned jaw. If you notice that you have:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Cross Bite
• Open Bite

Then you might want to consider setting up an orthodontist appointment. There are several risks to having a misaligned jaw. For one, it can affect your ability to properly chew and digest food. Not to mention, these types of “bites” can affect your physical appearance which, in turn, can impact your mental stability.

4- Trouble With Speech

One warning sign that you might need to visit the orthodontist is if you begin noticing trouble with speech. While it could potentially point to more concerning issues, there is a strong likelihood that it is due to your teeth! If there are specific words or letters you are having a hard time properly pronouncing words, it could mean that maybe your teeth or jaw are misplaced. This could be early warning signs that you need to seek out the care of an orthodontist.