Did you know that your bite is one of the most important parts of your oral health? Yes you’ve read that right! And yet, it is too often neglected. Both in children and adults, there are common bite problems that exist and in today’s article, we are here to uncover more about them. Interested in learning more? Keep reading!
What Are the Main Causes of Bite Problems in Children?
In the case of children, for example, there are three main causes that cause them.
- Thumb Sucking
It is a common habit that, if continued after six or seven years of age, can lead to an anterior open bite.
- Project the Tongue Between the Teeth When Swallowing
This force, over time, separates the teeth and overturns them, causing an anterior open bite.
- Breathe Through the Mouth
This type of breathing does not allow the upper jaw to develop normally and generates problems of dental malocclusion.
If these problems are not corrected in time, they can affect the position of the teeth, which will appear crowded and misaligned; in addition to preventing the normal development of the bones of the face.
Common Bite Problems in Both Children and Adults
The following are the most common bite problems experienced both by children and adults:
Cross Bite
A cross bite is probably the most common form of bad bite or malocclusion. It occurs when your teeth come closer to your cheeks or tongue, which is often caused by late tooth eruption or a tooth that erupted improperly.
Underbite
An underbite is a form of a bad bite, which occurs when the lower teeth extend further out than the upper teeth. This condition can be really uncomfortable as it can result in an extended chin. Common causes of an underbite include heredity, thumb sucking in children, and overuse of a bottle.
Openbite
An open bite is a type of bite problem characterized by the upper and lower front teeth not touching when the mouth is closed because they tilt outward. Excessive pacifier or bottle use, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and skeletal conditions are the common causes of stress buildup in the alignment of the front teeth, resulting in an open bite. .
Deep Bite
A deep bite, also known as an overbite or a closed bite, is a bite problem in which the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth oddly when the mouth is closed. Contributing factors to deep bite include thumb sucking, excessive nail biting in children, and clenching or grinding of teeth in adults.
Crowding
As the name implies, crowding is the type of malocclusion where there is now enough room for the teeth to erupt, resulting in broken or crooked teeth. Crowding can cause cavities, as crooked or rotated teeth can be difficult to clean. This bite problem can be easily corrected through expansion or removal of the affected tooth.
Distance
Tooth spacing can occur when the teeth are too small for the jawbone or when there is too much space between each tooth. Missing teeth is another factor causing spacing. This condition can cause oral problems, especially when food particles get stuck between the teeth and cause cavities.
Buck Teeth
Protruding teeth, also known as “buck teeth,” are a common bite problem in children and adults. Genetics, poor oral habits like tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, and severe crowding are the common factors that can cause protrusion. This condition needs to be corrected as it can increase the risk of dental injury, as well as patients having difficulty breathing through their nose.
Because many of these common bite problems are extremely common, parents should visit their dentist the moment they notice something wrong with their child’s bite. Your dentist and orthodontist will be able to identify your child’s bite problem, create a treatment plan so your child will have a healthy bite.
How about you? Do you have any bite problems or know any adult who does? What are you/friends doing to handle it? Let us know in the comments below.
