This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.
It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body. Today we are discussing the connection between malocclusion (poor “bite” or fitting together of the teeth) and your overall health.
Straightening teeth is no longer only for appearance. Straightened teeth contribute directly to your overall health. 
What is a Malocclusion?
Malocclusion is often referred to overcrowding or misalignment of your teeth. Specifically, it refers to the relationship between your upper and lower teeth, which should fit together evenly with low force exuded on the jaws and tooth surfaces. If there is a misalignment between the upper and lower teeth, then a number of symptoms can occur:
- Premature wearing and breaking of teeth which can lead to tooth loss.
- Chronic headaches
- Neck and jaw pain
- Tooth sensitivity
- Pain of facial muscles
- Joint noises in the jaw
- Difficulties with biting or chewing
Teeth that are crowded or out of alignment are more difficult to keep clean which can contribute to gum disease.
Gum disease not only leads to severe oral health disorders, but can exacerbate overall health conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory disorders. If left untreated, malocclusion can progress to affect bone, jaw, neck, and even head health.
Additionally, the improvements to bite functionality that result from malocclusion treatment can also make regular nutritional intake easier.
More About Gum Disease
80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.
The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.
If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.
Problems with your bite can lead to problems elsewhere in your body. And, at Loveable Smiles, we understand the connection.
We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment. 972-231-0585
This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.