Have you ever really thought about the effect of the alignment of your teeth or your bite has on your health? Probably not, but numerous studies have shown that early habits such as thumb-sucking affect your teeth and health long term.
Prognathism is the official term for irregularities and/or misalignment in the jaw, and the two particular types of this condition are referred to as maxillary prognathism (overbite) and progenism (underbite).
So what are the complications of having an overbite or underbite?
Overbites are determined when the upper row of teeth extend far over the bottom row, when in a normal set of teeth, they rest perfectly on top of one another.
· An overbite can permanently change the interior and exterior appearance of your mouth because the misalignment of your teeth alters the shape of your face.
· Also, because the teeth protrude further than they should, it puts more pressure on the gums and weakens them, which makes it harder to eat and bite into certain foods.
· And last, the protrusion also increases the risk for oral injury.
Underbites are categorized when the actual whole lower part of the mouth, including the jaw protrude further out than the top row of teeth, making the top row sit behind the lower one.
· Similar to an overbite, an underbite severely affects your general appearance. The protrusion of the jaw causes the entire face shape to dramatically change.
· Pressure, in this case, is now on the lower teeth causing them to grow outward and also be more sensitive in terms of biting and chewing.
· Perhaps most seriously, an underbite can cause speech problems. The way your mouth is formed entirely affects the way you speak; therefore jaw misalignment may cause a lisp or other general speech difficulties.
If you never truly considered the effects your bite may have on your dental and overall health, it is important to take notice and take a few steps towards a solution. If you have a child forming early thumb-sucking habits, do your best to wean them off of it. Or if you currently have an overbite or underbite yourself, consider routine orthodontic treatments which 8 out of 10 people currently have.
