Can Crowded Teeth Fall Out?
Both adults and children can have dental crowding or misaligned teeth, a common condition also known as crowding. While it may not be necessary for you to correct crowding teeth if your case is minor, in more advanced instances, crowding teeth can affect your dental health and quality of life. If you have difficulty chewing, have pain while chewing, or if you are self-conscious about your teeth to the point where you avoid social situations, discuss your unique situation with a dentist.
If your dentist determines your crowding teeth issue is not mild, but moderate or severe, he or she will refer you to an orthodontist. Treatment will improve your ability to properly clean your teeth, prevent tooth decay, protect the health of your gums, and avoid periodontal disease and possible tooth extraction.
What Causes Crowding Teeth?
Crowded teeth create tight spaces that are difficult to clean, making you more likely to have harmful plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth. Even if you regularly brush and floss, food particles and bacteria can still be trapped between your teeth, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth extraction in extreme cases.
Factors such as baby teeth falling out too early, thumb-sucking, or babies and toddlers using a pacifier or bottle too long can interfere with proper dental development. Hereditary traits also significantly influence whether you will have crowded teeth. You are likely to inherit from your parents teeth that are too large or too small, or a smaller-than-normal jaw size.
Further factors putting you at risk for crowding teeth include poor overall dental habits, poor nutrition, especially in children, resulting in cavities, improper tooth development, and crowding teeth; and injury to the face or mouth.
What Issues can Result from Crowding Teeth?
Crowded teeth can lead to the following additional health issues if left untreated:
- Periodontal Disease. Difficulty in cleaning between teeth can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and possibly periodontitis, a more serious infection that can damage jawbones.
- Chewing and Digestion. Crowded teeth can interfere with proper chewing and potentially cause digestive issues.
- Excess Wear. Crowded teeth typically get worse over time, causing excess wear on your teeth and jaw muscles and damage to your gums. Possible issues from excess wear include cracked teeth, jaw strain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and chronic headaches.
- Speech Difficulty. Crowded teeth can affect the way you make vocal sounds, causing speech problems.
- Self-Esteem Issues. Unhappiness with your teeth and smile might make you lack self-esteem and avoid social situations.
What are my Options for Repairing Crowding Teeth?
Treatment for crowded teeth includes the following options:
- Metal Braces. This is a good solution if your issue is more complex. Brackets, bands, and flexible wire will be attached to your teeth. Enhancements to metal braces over time include smaller brackets, less metal used, and improved comfort.
- Ceramic Braces. Clear or tooth-colored brackets and wire are a good option if aesthetics is a concern. The straightening process is the same as metal braces, but ceramic braces can be prone to staining and breaking easily, and they are a little more expensive.
- Invisible Braces. These custom-made, clear plastic aligners must be worn 20 hours a day, including during sleep. This option is not recommended for correcting severe instances of crowding. Invisible braces may require more time to straighten teeth than traditional metal braces, and they are typically more expensive.
- Lingual Braces. The lingual surface means the back side of your teeth. Lingual braces are similar to traditional metal braces, except that they are invisible for the most part. However, they are more expensive, can be difficult to clean, and are not recommended for severe cases of crowded teeth.
Treatment with braces usually requires two to three years, depending on the braces you choose and the type and extent of work you need. Your case may also require additional devices, such as expanders or retainers, to enhance results. Teeth-straightening surgery is another option to consider, and typically takes less time to achieve desired results.
Consult with Your Provider for Treatment Options
If you decide that straightening your crowded teeth is the right choice for you, talk with your dentist and orthodontist about your best treatment option. Together, discuss your hereditary and health issues and how your treatment depends on your age and the seriousness of your unique case. Diagnosing crowding teeth early on will allow for appropriate intervention and could prevent the need for more invasive procedures.