How crooked do teeth have to be to worry about them? i never had braces as a kid, and have some crooked teeth that i don't think are too crooked. as far as my smile goes, i'm not concerned about it. what does worry me a bit is that it's extremely difficul

It : It is terrific that you are concerned about your oral health and would like to take a proactive approach to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Do you go for regular cleanings and check ups? If so, what do your dentist and hygienist say about the bone support and accumulation of calculus in the problematic area? If you have not been to a dentist for a while, then it might be a good idea to go for an exam with radiographs and a thorough cleaning. In this way your condition can be evaluated and a proper course of treatment can be determined.

Crooked : Crooked teeth can pose a problem for proper oral hygiene. As we all get older it becomes increasingly important to be sure we are taking care of the gingival (gum tissue) and bone tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. Flossing is the best way we have of providing that care. So you are correct to be concerned about being effective in the daily flossing of your teeth. It may be possible to lightly relieve the contacts to your teeth, which will make flossing easier. It may also be more advisable to utilize some very simple, limited treatment, orthodontics to improve the alignment of your teeth thus make the home care easier and more effective. Beyond your just being able to floss easier, establishing the proper contacts (eliminating overlapping teeth) between teeth allows your teeth to be more free cleansing and thus less likely to trap food debris and plaque in the first place. Your best course is to seek out the advice of a university trained orthodontic specialist for an opinion regarding your concerns. The orthodontist will be able to evaluate your condition and provide you with all of the possible options to resolving your needs.

I : I am glad that you are concerned more about the health of your teeth because of the difficulty in flossing. Have you developed any periodontal (gum issues) around these teeth? Invisalign is a great way to do minor orthodontics with a minimum of inconvenience. If you want to minimize the future risk of developing periodontal issues around these tight teeth, you might want to speak with your dentist or orthodontist to see what they can suggest.

Care is the rule: No matter how crooked you feel your teeth are: orthodontics is an elective treatment. As an orthodontist, i see a multitude of reasons to have it done (it's how i make my living!), having said that: to be ethical no treatment is a very viable option, if and only if you can maintain good oral health. It may take much longer and demand good dexterity, but if you can clean well, no treatment is fine.

Degree: Anything other than normal is abnormal. It's just a matter of degree. Straight teeth that occlude properly are easier to care for, apply less strain to the supporting bone/gum tissues, and function better. Oh, and they also look better. Why not get an orthodontic opinion (usually free) so you can decide from a position of knowledge.