Crooked Teeth

Having crooked teeth can make it challenging to have confidence in your smile, but aside from the aesthetic issues, crooked teeth can impact holistic health in a number of ways.

When teeth are crooked, spacing issues occur in the mouth and depending on the seriousness of the misalignment, full-mouth conditions can develop.

For example, crooked teeth can affect the natural position of the tongue as well as the shape of the jaw and upper palate. A mouth crowded with misaligned teeth can also contribute to the development of sleep apnea.

Crooked Teeth and Sleep Apnea

Crooked teeth can negatively affect the natural positioning of the mouth and throat. When teeth are significantly crooked or crowded, they may prevent the tongue from resting naturally on the floor of the mouth.

Additionally, if misalignment is caused by a narrow upper palate, crooked teeth may also restrict space that’s naturally designed for soft tissues to rest.

When the tongue and soft tissues do not fit naturally in the mouth, they tend to obstruct or interfere with breathing during sleep. Frequent interruptions in breathing during sleep is known as sleep apnea, and when the issue is caused by airway obstruction, the condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

While interrupted breathing patterns are concerning enough, sleep apnea can contribute to additional health issues. For example:

• Fatigue during the day
• High blood pressure
• Loud snoring
• Sore throat
• Frequent headaches
• Mood disturbances
• Sleep Apnea Treatment

In many cases, sleep apnea can be treated without surgery, so if you’re concerned that your crooked teeth are interfering with your breathing when you sleep, you have options.

At Solace Wellness Center, our medical professionals treat sleep apnea with the Vivos System. Vivos is non-invasive and painless as it makes use of customized oral devices that open the airway and reinforce the structure of the mouth.

Treatment times are relatively short, and because the oral devices work to remodel the structure of the mouth, the effects are permanent.

If your crooked teeth have made it difficult for you to get a decent night’s sleep, call us at 978-851-8600 or request an appointment. Our medical staff will walk you through your options and help you improve your airway quality without surgery.