Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

4 Signs You Might Suffer from a Poor Bite

9 November 2016

Herman Kim

When you bite down, your teeth should come together; if you have a poor bite, you may find that this doesn't happen, with teeth clenching down in improper positions instead. This might not sound like a serious issue, but it can result in joint problems and tooth decay.

Here are just four signs that your bite might be off.

1. Few Teeth Touch at Once

One of the easiest ways to tell whether your bite is off is by simply bringing your upper and lower teeth together. If you have a strong bite, you'll notice that most of your upper and lower teeth are touching; if you don't, you'll find that not many teeth touch each other at once. For example, you may find it impossible to have the front teeth and back teeth meet each other at once. This will often become obvious while eating since you'll need to move your jaw forwards to bite off chunks of food using your incisors and then move it backwards again to chew using your molars.

2. You Experience Pain or Discomfort Along Your Jaw

If you don't have a strong bite, it means that you're probably going to be using the muscles in your jaw unevenly. When your teeth are out of alignment, the joints and muscles of the jaw need to work harder in order to achieve an alignment. Additionally, people with poor bites often don't rest with their teeth touching; this places more strain on the jaw muscles since there is a lack of stabilization. For these reasons, people with poor bites often experience discomfort at the place their jaw connects to their skull.

3. You Experience Uneven Sensitivity

When your bite is off, you won't be bringing biting force down on all teeth evenly; some of them will have to take additional strain, which can grind away the surface enamel. Worn spots will result in sensitivity; if you notice that some teeth are sensitive to hot and cold while others seem unaffected, a bad bite could be to blame. Remember, this is a serious problem since eroded enamel also leaves the tooth in question more susceptible to decay.

4. Your Lips Are Kept Apart When You're Relaxed

People with strong bites will find it comfortable to keep their mouths closed tight when they aren't talking or eating. People who can't bring all of their teeth together at once often find it hard making their mouths relax into a bite, so it's common for such people to keep their lips parted slightly.

Contact a dentist by visiting a site like http://www.finkelsteindentist.com.au for more information.

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