Most people visit the orthodontist or dentist to get rid of the gap and achieve a perfect smile. But what they might not realize, is that widely spaced teeth impact your physical health as well. Yes, self-confidence and self-esteem issues can be a problem associated with widely spaced teeth but they can also negatively impact your health if you don’t take proper care.

Widely spaced teeth have many causes.

It can be genetic or it can be developed over time during childhood. It can even happen in adults, but it is more commonly seen to be developed during childhood. Oral habits such as thrusting your tongue between your teeth can cause spacing. Or it can be the result of the jaw being significantly larger than average and the teeth, trying to cover up the area, develop space between themselves.

Oral hygiene is a main issue with widely spaced teeth. It may seem as though it is easy to clean between the gaps but this is false. Food tends to get stuck between those gaps and the bacteria has access to your gums and teeth. It becomes a breeding ground for plaque. This may cause your gums and teeth to weaken and diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis, to be caused. If the plaque is not taken care of early, your teeth may begin to decay. But an even bigger issue is the that oral diseases, such as periodontitis, can lead to more serious complications like heart diseases.

It is also difficult to floss teeth with wide spaces because you have to be very attentive when doing so, in case you scrape of your gums.

Another cause of widely spaced teeth is a misaligned bite. This may cause the teeth to move and shift out of place. People with misaligned teeth may experience extreme pain in the jaw, forehead and ear. Even chewing food can become difficult and painful. Your teeth may tend to hit with more force and this may cause them to break into tiny pieces or become chipped.

Gaps between teeth may cause chewing to become a problem which can lead to swallowing huge chunks of food, making digestive problems.

Gaps between teeth may also cause you to develop bad breath, yellow teeth, bleeding gums and pain in the gums. Traditional metal braces or Invisalign clear liners makes it possible to correct the gaps between the teeth without anyone noticing that you have something inside your mouth. To learn more about correcting widely spaced teeth contact Anne C.Kossowan, DDS and make an appointment today!