A 34-year-old member asked:
How does malocclusion affect my body weight?
5 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Jeffrey Milleranswered
Rheumatology 53 years experience
If: If it stops you from eating high calorie food, keep it until you are at ideal weight , then fix it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
40 years experience
Not much: After 30 years of treating malocclusions, i can say without reservation that the kids intake of calories are just fine. There are rare cases identified very early in life where the malocclusion is so severe that it impedes eating, but those have been all orthopedic cases. Plenty of folks 1 or 2 generations ago took dentures out to eat.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Arnold Malermananswered
Orthodontics 55 years experience
It doesn't: Body wight is a function of calories in vrs calories out, not tooth/jaw malrelationships. When in braces if you eat a healthy diet and get lots of exercise it can change your body weight, but the same thing happens without braces. You might want to talk to both an orthodontist and a nutritionist for the full picture.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Hilary Baskinanswered
Orthodontics 30 years experience
It should not: It can impact how you chew food, which could impact digestion and overall health. But what you eat much more than how you chew it and how you exercise will always be the key drivers of body weight.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Paul Grinanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
Weight loss: Malocclusion leads to poor use of food, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Chewing becomes increasingly difficult, and severe malnutrition may lead to weight loss. See your orthodontist for examination, imaging and treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 4, 2014
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