3 Reasons You May Need Braces If You Have An Underbite

If your lower jaw sets out further than your upper jaw and it causes your lower teeth to slightly overlap your upper teeth when you smile, you have what is known as an underbite. Underbites are a little less common than an overbite, which happens when the top teeth protrude more than the teeth on the bottom. However, an underbite is something that you may be recommended to get braces to correct. It is easy to avoid this recommendation if you don't want braces, but there are actually good reasons to follow the dentist's recommendations. Here is a look at why you may need braces services if you have an underbite. 

Having an underbite can damage your teeth. 

When your teeth do not line up together, at least fairly closely, it can be harder on your teeth when you bite and chew. Over time, this can cause things like wear that would not otherwise occur. When you chew, the teeth should match up closely to crush your food. If they do not, you can be putting more stress on some of your teeth, which may make them prone to breakage. 

Having an underbite can change the appearance of your smile. 

A very slight underbite would not do a lot of harm to the appearance of a person's smile. You would probably smile and still appear to have teeth that line up rather closely, so the issue would not be all that noticeable. However, if your underbite is a little more severe, it can drastically change how you look when you smile. Many people who have an underbite are self-conscious about their smiles, but this is an issue that can easily be corrected with braces most of the time. 

Having a severe underbite can be hard on your jaws. 

If your underbite is caused because your lower jaw sits out much further than your upper jaw, it is not just your teeth that are not properly lining up. Your jawbones may also be somewhat out of line It is not uncommon for people who have an underbite to have issues with pain in their jaws or jaws that crack and pop when they chew because of this fact. Even though braces may not fully correct this problem, they can help. If the problem is severe enough, a dentist may recommend a jaw realignment surgery to correct the position of your upper and lower jaws.