Crooked Smile: When You Should Own It, Or Fix It

gapped tooth - Newpark orthodontics

“I keep my twisted grill, just to show them, kids, it’s real
We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still”

The song “Crooked Smile” by J. Cole offers an inspiring message about how you should love yourself with all your imperfections, highlighting the importance of inner beauty. The rapper himself has a set of crooked teeth, and through this song, he explains that as he became more and more famous, he was pressured by friends and critics to get his teeth straightened.

This song serves as an anthem to those who struggle with imperfections and is an encouragement to embrace them. We applaud rap artists and celebrities who do so much to empower young people and the community to appreciate inner beauty.

We are advocates of finding beauty in imperfections, but we want our patients to know that there are other reasons for getting braces. It’s not just about vanity – it’s about health.

Getting braces is about more than just looks and appearance. While it is often one of the primary reasons, since having a set of straight teeth can potentially improve your confidence, there are a few health reasons that you will want to consider when you are deciding on whether or not to pursue orthodontic treatment.

Preventing Decay and Infections

Crooked teeth can cause dental problems that impact the health of your mouth. Crowding, when there is not enough space in your mouth, can result in improper cleaning.

As gross as it sounds, your mouth contains all kinds of bacteria. Some are good for your oral health, but others will cause tooth decay or gum disease. The key to clearing your mouth of this harmful bacteria is by cleaning out plaque and tartar between teeth, and in other difficult-to-reach areas.
Let’s face the facts – if your teeth are so crooked that you can’t get your floss between them, it’s unlikely that your teeth are getting fully cleaned. In the long term, this will result in plaque build-up, and eventually cavities and tooth decay.

With straightened teeth and regular dental cleanings, you should be able to keep your mouth clean and healthy for a long time, well into adulthood and even your golden years.

Preventing Damage

Some common bite issues can harm the rest of your mouth. These bite issues could be an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. While these are typically fixed for cosmetic reasons, the reality is that they could cause damage to your teeth and mouth if they are not fixed.

For example, they can cause uneven chewing patterns and premature tooth wear. An overbite is especially damaging since it can cause the lower front teeth to bite into the gum tissue. A set of misaligned teeth, especially with a bite issue, can even cause snoring and more serious sleep disorders.

Treating Aches & Pains

Believe it or not, crooked teeth can also cause issues with your jaw and face. Misaligned, crowded, or crooked teeth affect the way that you bite, and the uneven forces can cause a strain on your teeth. This strain is the leading cause of aches throughout your jaw and face, in addition to chronic headaches and fatigue.

Needless to say, if you have crooked teeth you may already be experiencing pain when biting and chewing. Unfortunately, this is something that will not get better without orthodontic treatment.

Some people have crooked teeth that are not a risk to their health at all. Roswell Orthodontists and dentists spend many years studying and practicing to be able to identify whether or not certain teeth and alignment issues will cause pain or health issues, so it’s best to get a professional opinion before making a decision. If they deem that a crooked smile will not negatively impact your oral health or facial structure, then by all means, own that crooked smile.

Here at Newpark Orthodontics, we want to empower all of our patients to love how they look and be on their way to a healthy life. Whether it’s a set of crooked teeth, uniquely large glasses, or whatever else you may have that society deems as “unacceptable”, it’s up to you to have confidence in your smile.