How Can You Fix An Overbite?

For most people, having an overbite isn’t much of an issue; it doesn’t even really come into play with your everyday life unless you’re getting braces or trying to find the perfect pair of glasses. But even if an overbite doesn’t impact your daily life, you still may have issues with confidence or self-esteem, which can take an emotional toll and affect other aspects of your health and well-being in turn. Fortunately, there are treatments available that can fix your normal overbite and give you the normal bite you’ve always wanted.

Am I destined to have an overbite?

Everyone’s jaws are slightly different, but for most people, a normal overbite is around one to two millimeters. If your bite falls outside of that range and causes damage to your teeth or gums, it’s best to consult with an orthodontist. They will have you wear a series of removable elastics called brackets or they will create a mold of your jaw and apply special cement in order to shift how your teeth fit together when biting down. Both procedures are quick—with some slight discomfort—and before long, you’ll be able to smile with confidence. The only way to know if you have an overbite is by visiting your dentist.

What can I do if I have an overbite?

There are a few things that you can do to remedy your situation. If a dentist determines that your bite is normal but your teeth don’t line up, he or she will discuss orthodontic treatment with you. In addition to straightening crooked teeth, braces may be used to align them and keep them from drifting back into place.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that any orthodontic treatment for adults should not start until age 18. At age 13, children are considered braces ready if their permanent front teeth have appeared and they have enough room in their mouths for dental appliances. An overbite before and after photo shows how much difference orthodontics can make.

Causes of Overbites

An overbite is when your upper teeth extend beyond your lower teeth, causing a protrusion in front of your face. A true or normal overbite usually involves only two or three teeth that overlap. These tooth interactions are often hereditary, so it’s important to see if both of your parents have a similar bite, especially since most children develop their bites between ages 6 and 12.

Overbites also occur more often in people who play stringed instruments like violin or viola because they need space to create vibrato by moving their jaw up and down. If you have an overbite, there are a few steps you can take to reduce its appearance First, make sure your dentist confirms that you do have an overbite; sometimes patients will think they do when it’s actually just crowded teeth. Then, visit a dentist who specializes in treating bite problems. Finally, follow these tips for correcting an overbite:

Types of Overbites

Overbites are a complicated area of orthodontics and dental care. An overbite is defined as when your top teeth overlap your bottom teeth. However, there are a few different types of overbites that you need to understand if you want to correct it. Specifically, what matters is which teeth are overlapping. For example, consider one case where your top front teeth overlap your bottom front teeth, but not necessarily on both sides (this would be called a bilateral overbite).

Another example is when all four upper incisors overlap all four lower incisors (this would be called a full or total overjet). The specific type of dentofacial deformity matters because it will affect how we plan to treat it and measure success or failure in treatment outcomes.

So, don’t just ask can I fix my overbite?—ask what kind of overbite do I have? first! Then we’ll know how to proceed. I had no idea about normal overbites before reading your post; thank you for educating me. Now I know that people with  like TMJ disorders and migraines.

A simple quick x-ray from our dentist can show us if there’s any misalignment in our bite and then our dentist/orthodontist will determine whether braces or some other method should be used to fix it up.

Natural Fixes for Overbites

An overbite is a bit of misalignment with one or both of your jawbones. When they don’t align, it makes it hard to chew, talk and smile because teeth aren’t lining up as they should. Overbites can run in families and are usually hereditary. Children with lower jaw retrusion (where their lower jaw extends past their upper jaw) and bilateral crossbites often outgrow them as they get older, so talk to your dentist about whether any treatment is really necessary.

But if your child does have an overbite that isn’t going away on its own, there are a few things you can do without surgery . The first thing to try is a mouth guard—one that fits well and protects not only your child’s teeth but also his lips, tongue and gums. If that doesn’t work, ask your dentist about orthodontic headgear for children. It looks like a small helmet and works by gently pulling. Back on your child’s top jaw until it’s no longer overlapping his bottom jaw. The pressure from headgear should be mild enough that he won’t notice wearing. It but strong enough to help realign his jaws within six months or less.

And finally, some children need braces to correct their bite. While braces can be uncomfortable at first, most kids adjust quickly. Once they realize how much better everything feels when their bite is corrected. Your orthodontist will recommend braces based on your child’s age, dental development and severity of his bite.

If your child has a severe overbite, she may need her permanent adult teeth sooner than other kids her age; she’ll likely wear her baby teeth for a year or two before getting her adult ones. Braces will keep these permanent teeth from moving into place during those years. Your doctor may recommend biting down lightly on soft foods while wearing braces. To minimize discomfort—and avoid talking too much during meals, which could put stress on your kid’s jaw. Joints while they’re adjusting to their new set of chompers!