Unlike other parts of the body, your teeth can’t heal themselves. While a cut will scab over and close up, eventually repairing itself and only leaving a scar behind, and while a broken bone can knit together, if your tooth has a chip or hole in it, that damage will remain.
So if you’ve lost a tooth or multiple teeth, or if your teeth are badly misaligned, you might feel as though you’re stuck with the damage. This doesn’t have to be true. Missing, damaged, and misaligned teeth are far more common than you might realize, because modern dental care is so advanced that the damage can be repaired; it just needs a bit more help.
Looking After Your Teeth
The most important thing you can do for your teeth is preventative care. If your teeth won’t heal themselves, you should try to make sure they don’t get damaged in the first place. This doesn’t help with orthodontic problems like misaligned teeth, but it can definitely prevent tooth loss.
Cavities are caused by plaque and bacteria in your mouth eating away at your teeth, and it can lead to tooth decay and rot. This causes pain and, if it causes actual rot, your tooth might need to be removed.
So regular teeth cleaning, including flossing and professional cleans, can prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Invisible Braces
But what about misaligned teeth?
Braces are the most obvious solution, in more ways than one. They might be the first thing that comes to your mind, and they’re also very obvious. But there are a lot of different types of braces available.
Visible braces are often required for moderate or severe tooth misalignment. You have to be careful of what you eat because it’s harder to brush your teeth, and food can get trapped. Over time, your teeth will straighten out, and you can progress to a retainer or invisible braces.
Invisible braces cost less than you might expect, and they can be an effective way to correct mild tooth misalignment or to keep your teeth nice and straight after visible braces. Even better, as the name suggests, they aren’t as noticeable as other types of braces.
Jaw Realignment
Another issue that could affect your teeth is a misaligned jaw. This can be present from birth, or it can be caused by an injury later in life. Many people have a slightly misaligned jaw, which can result in an overbite or an underbite, but this often isn’t noticeable.
In more extreme cases, this can cause issues with eating and speaking, and it can affect someone’s appearance. A dentist might recommend surgery to correct a misaligned jaw in these cases.
Missing or Damaged Teeth
If your teeth are damaged or chipped, a dentist can put a dental crown on your tooth to make it look more complete. In many cases, dentists will remove severely damaged or rotten teeth completely and replace them with implants to provide a seamless and natural appearance.
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