With all the attention paid to smiles and fresh breath, it’s easy to overlook the functional role of our teeth.
That starts with your bite. We notice small nuances in how your bottom teeth line up with your upper teeth. Problems here can make chewing painful, erode teeth surfaces and even cause speech difficulty.
Some of the more common bite issues are:
Underbite – This is where the lower jaw juts out, causing the lower front teeth to sit in front of the upper front teeth.
Crossbite – This is when the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth. You need to move your lower jaw forward or to the side to close your mouth.
Overbite – This is when the upper front teeth extend too far out over the lower front teeth. This produces a “gummy” smile and can produce excessive incisor wear.
These are called malocclusions. They often indicate the need for orthodontic treatment.
