Anatomy of a Healthy Bite
You know your teeth allow you to chew and eat your food. You know they make up your beautiful smile. But do you know how your teeth and jaw work together to create your full chewing system? At Foundations Orthodontics, we take a holistic approach to orthodontics. This means we do more than just straighten your teeth — we consider the functional relationship between the teeth and jaw joints to give our Denver, Granby and Winter Park orthodontic patients healthy, harmonious, aligned bites.
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a healthy bite looks like, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, Dr. Renee Moran and the Foundations Orthodontics team will share:
The anatomy of a healthy bite
Common bite issues and what causes them
How to tell if your bite is off
What Does an Ideal Bite Look Like?
We are all unique, with different facial and jaw structure and different tooth alignment. So to answer the question “How are teeth supposed to look?”, we first have to understand the components that make up your bite. The chewing system comprises the teeth, the jaw joint and the muscles of mastication. When properly aligned, the system works harmoniously together to support essential functions like chewing, swallowing, speaking and more. If these components are misaligned, called malocclusion or “bad bite,” it can lead to issues with eating, digestion, speech, damaged teeth, tooth decay and other serious health concerns.
So what does a proper bite look like? A healthy bite is one where the top teeth are aligned with the bottom teeth, the upper and lower jaw fit together when the mouth is closed, and the muscles that move your jaw joints are not in pain. Your top teeth should overlap your bottom teeth slightly, your upper arch should be slightly wider than your lower arch, and the biting edges of your teeth should generally be straight. Not sure if you have an ideal bite? We’ll walk you through how to do a self-assessment, but keep in mind that the best way to determine if your bite is off is to visit an orthodontist in Granby, Winter Park or Denver.
What is Malocclusion and What Causes It?
Before we talk about how to tell if you have a bad bite, let’s first talk about what causes bite issues. We mentioned the term “malocclusion” earlier on. This literally means “bad bite” and is the most common reason for people to start orthodontic treatment. There are four main types of malocclusion, including underbite, overbite, crossbite and open bite. Here’s what they look like:
Infographic: A healthy bite compared to the 4 types of malocclusions (a.k.a. bite problems)
Underbite: An underbite is when the bottom teeth are positioned in front of the top teeth when the jaws are closed. An underbite can increase the risk of developing cavities and gum disease, interfere with breathing, chewing, and speaking, cause facial asymmetry, result in TMJ dysfunction and pain, and lead to excessive wear of the enamel. While braces can fix an underbite, early orthodontic treatment while a child is still growing can often help direct jaw growth, preventing the need for corrective jaw surgery down the road.
Overbite: Overbite refers to the vertical overlap of the front teeth. While almost everyone has some degree of an overbite, when the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth to an excessive degree, it’s known as a deep bite and orthodontic treatment is recommended. In extreme cases, the bottom teeth may even bite into the soft tissues behind the top teeth.
Crossbite: When some of the bottom teeth sit in front of some of the top teeth when the mouth is closed, it’s called a crossbite. A patient can have a posterior crossbite (back crossbite) or an anterior crossbite (front crossbite). A crossbite can usually be treated with braces.
Open bite: An open bite is when there is a complete lack of an overbite. In cases of an open bite, there will be an opening or space between the top and bottom teeth when the jaws are closed. An open bite can interfere with biting, chewing and speaking, as well as cause jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction and headaches. Additionally, the teeth that are touching will become overloaded and the enamel will break down. Dr. Moran can often treat an open bite with either metal braces or clear, ceramic braces.
Malocclusion can be caused by genetics, size discrepancy between your upper and lower jaw, variations in tooth size, early tooth loss or injury, impacted teeth, birth defects, or poor oral health habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
How to Tell If You Have a Normal Bite
So how can you determine if you need to see an orthodontist for bite concerns? Start by looking at your smile in the mirror. Then run through these questions:
Does the bottom of your top teeth line up with the bottom of your upper lip? If you can see too much of your gums or if your teeth are completely hidden, you may have a bite issue.
When your teeth are closed, do the bottom ones fit nicely together with the top ones? If your bottom teeth sit outside of your top teeth, you may have a crossbite.
Are your teeth crooked, crowded or overly spaced? These are all signs of bite misalignment, but even if you have straight teeth, you may still have malocclusion.
Are you experiencing other symptoms, such as temporomandibular joint pain, headaches, difficulty speaking, swallowing or chewing, or are you grinding your teeth? These symptoms are not necessarily visible to the naked eye but are common side effects of malocclusion.
If you think you might have a misaligned bite, the best thing to do is speak to an orthodontist who specializes in correcting the total chewing system, not just straightening the teeth. After all, teeth are just one part of a healthy, harmonious smile. Contact Foundations Orthodontics to book your consultation with Dr. Moran.