Dental misalignment is a common phenomenon that affects thousands of kids and adults in the US and worldwide. It is a condition that can lead to severe discomfort and hassle.

Crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth are positioned behind another. The overlapped teeth layer against each other when the jaw is closed. Crossbites can cause discomfort in chewing, swallowing, and biting food. 

Continue reading this post to learn its causes and possible treatment options.

A Deeper Look at Crossbites

Crossbite mostly affects kids, and this condition usually goes away as they grow up. Crossbites can affect the front, back, lower, or upper teeth and lead to severe malocclusion if not treated immediately. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of crossbite:

            
1. Genes              

   Crossbite can be a hereditary condition. Many people are born with it as a genetic predisposition. 

          
            
2. Continuous Thumb Sucking             

   Thumb sucking can cause crossbite in babies. It can misalign and push the upper teeth forward and lower teeth backward. This condition ultimately causes a crossbite and requires professional alignment. 

          
            
3. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding or jaw clenching can also be a leading culprit of crossbite. 

Persistent use of a pacifier, nail-biting, and fast chewing can also cause crossbite, which can ultimately lead to delayed tooth loss and can worsen tonsils. The main causes of crossbites can be detected through in-depth dental screening, such as an X-ray. 

How Can a Crossbite Affect You?

Crossbites can have long-lasting effects on your lifestyle and overall health. It can lead to pain and discomfort when eating and chewing and make you more susceptible to bruxism and mouth sores. What’s more, a crossbite can affect your mental and physical health by inducing muscle tension, dental decay, and periodontitis. 

Misaligned biting raises the likelihood of dental issues and bruxism. A misaligned bite can cause jaw muscle tension, tooth decay, and gum disease. That’s why it’s important to receive prompt medical attention and diagnosis to uncover the underlying causes of your crossbite. 

Timely treatment can prevent skeletal and dental issues in the future and lowers your chances of receiving orthodontic surgery. 

How to Know If You Have a Crossbite?

Here are the most common signs of crossbite:

            
• You’re unable to chew properly
            
• It’s difficult to bite with your front teeth
            
• You frequently suffer from an accidental lip or tongue bite while chewing food
            
• A recurrent lisp or difficulty speaking properly can also be a leading sign of crossbite
            
• You’re facing difficulty when pronouncing “d” and “t”

            
• You’ve been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) before
            
• Wearing improper tooth wear such as braces, can cause a crossbite

Possible Treatments for a Crossbite

Fortunately, crossbites are completely curable. They can be treated through different treatments, such as braces, invisible aligners, jaw surgery, and retainers. However, you must make necessary lifestyle changes and eating habits to prevent crossbite relapse and position issues in the future. 

General dentists at NY Dental Boutique in Brooklyn can help you get rid of crossbite and other teeth alignment problems with advanced tools and treatments. They can perform detailed dental screenings to diagnose your ailment and suggest accurate procedures. 

You can also talk to them about preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry treatments to cure any dental problems that you may have. 

How to Prevent a Crossbite

Crossbite is often genetic and cannot be prevented. However, you may have to take the following recommended preventive steps to reduce the risk of developing it:

            
• Discourage your children from sucking their thumb
            
• Limit using pacifiers 
            
• Practice correct breathing practices as mouth breathing can cause a crossbite
            
• Consult your dentist about wearing a mouthguard
            
• Maintain your oral health by regularly flossing and brushing your teeth 

Check Out NY Dental Boutique’s Expansive Range of Dental Services in Brooklyn 

NY Dental Boutique is an up-and-coming dental clinic in Brooklyn. It offers a wide range of dental services, including X-rays, root canals, teeth whitening, scaling, and more. You can also avail of their cosmetic dentistry procedures such as dental contouring and Clear Aligner therapy.

For more details, contact them today or check out their new patient offers to save some bucks on your first dental visit!