Eh, What’s Up, Doc?
We’ll tell you what’s up this Easter season. It’s buck teeth. Although totally cute in rabbits, humans find it tough to love on their own buck teeth, and rightfully so. If you have buck teeth, this means that your upper teeth are sticking out past your lower teeth or overlapping them. You might think that buck teeth only have aesthetic disadvantages, but buck teeth can be incredibly problematic for your entire mouth. Protruding teeth can cause anything from jaw pain, tooth decay, difficulties chewing, speech impediments, headaches, and more. You know, the works. Mouths vary greatly from one person to the next, so the cause of buck teeth is not linear across the board. Let’s hop on over to cover some common causes.
From Little Rabbithood to Adulthood
For those of you with young tykes, you know how they like to suck on their thumbs and pacifiers. Kids who engage in this behavior excessively and for years on end are more likely to develop buck teeth because of the created pressure. Teeth might come in at an outward angle. Adults aren’t necessarily off the hook either. Habits like nail-biting, chewing on objects, or tongue thrusting are all an invitation for buck teeth. While nice for an Easter bunny, our mouths were not designed to thrive with buck teeth.
Buck Teeth and Your Other Teeth
Everything in your mouth is connected. It’s no surprise that if you have a problem in one area of the mouth, you might begin to have a problem in another area. Things like tooth grinding, missing teeth, overcrowding, and impacted teeth can all mess with tooth alignment and may result in buck teeth. Even just one missing tooth can cause serious alignment issues over time. In cases like this, buck teeth may be accompanied by other problems, which means that you’ll want to see the dentist to work out a plan of action sooner rather than later.
Some Things Are Out of Your Control
Yes, you can drop your poor oral health habits. Yes, you can take better care of your teeth. While these can help prevent buck teeth, we know that some situations are just out of your control. Genetics, for one, could make it more likely that you develop buck teeth, especially if both of your parents have had their own experiences with the condition. Misalignment with the jaw, improper tongue position, or poor bite can make matters even worse. It’s tough or even impossible to control these from happening without help from a professional. That’s where your local dentist jumps in to help.
Bunny Hop Over To Your Dentist
So, what is in your control? Your ability to make it to the dentist, of course! Those who have buck teeth range in severity but all should spring over to their dentist’s office to discuss concerns. Your dentist will be able to determine what treatment path you should take if anything at all. Braces or dental appliances like retainers may be recommended to create needed alignment in the mouth. Some folks may need to explore other alternatives such as tooth extraction. If anything is certain, “every bunny” has individual needs. A one-on-one appointment will help you take care of your teeth in the best way possible.
We’re aligned to help you out with buck teeth concerns or anything else that may be troubling your mouth. Give us a call today.
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