“Why does my bite feel off during orthodontic treatment?” It’s a common question during Invisalign or braces treatment. If your braces or Invisalign bite feels weird, then your treatment is actually doing its job.
Zombek Orthodontics creates beautiful smiles, but those smiles can feel odd during the process. As your teeth move, your bite may feel odd. It doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong. It just means your teeth are moving as expected.
How long will your bite feel odd? It varies from patient to patient. It could be a few weeks or a few months. In the end, you’ll have a bite that fits the way it should, so it will feel normal.
To understand the shift in your bite, you need to understand how orthodontic treatment works. Whether you choose braces or clear aligners, your treatment will happen in phases.
Teeth will need to be moved and straightened, and your bite will need to be aligned. Then, everything needs to come together and line up for the perfect smile.
It’s normal to feel an odd bite while your teeth shift into proper alignment. You may find that your bite isn’t as strong or as accurate as normal, and that’s OK. It’s not a sign of a problem. Instead, it’s a sign that your treatment is working as expected.
Changes in your bite usually don’t happen until several months in because tooth alignment comes first.
What does that mean? Your braces or clear aligners will start with straightening and positioning your teeth to form a proper dental arch. Until your teeth are lined up as they need to be, we can’t move them into a proper bite.
Once your teeth are properly aligned, we can move them to create a proper bite where the top teeth fit against the bottom teeth as they should. Your teeth are designed to fit a certain way so they tear and grind your food without wearing themselves down.
Those dental arches and your bite would be inaccurate if the teeth weren’t aligned properly first. An inaccurate bite would mean corrections later, which would prolong your treatment. That’s why we straighten and position the teeth first.
This is also why your bite may feel “off” at first. It’s not a mistake — it actually shows that your treatment is working.
When It’s OK vs. When You Should Call Us
Your teeth will move a lot, and your bite will change over time. All of this is going to make your mouth feel “weird” for a while. When does the “weird” feeling go from normal to something that requires a phone call to the orthodontist?
Here are some instances where things may feel “weird” but are actually normal, and when “weird” isn’t normal and may need a call to Zombek Orthodontics and an intervention from us.
Normal
Worth a call
Keep in mind, Zombek Orthodontics is always here for you. We are happy to answer any questions you have. You can always call with concerns about treatment, or bring them up during an office visit.
We strongly recommend you keep all office appointments. Those appointments allow us to track your treatment and make any adjustments needed to keep your tooth movement and bite corrections on track.
Yes. We start by straightening your teeth, which may make your bite feel “off.” Once your teeth are aligned into a proper dental arch, we will move them to correct your bite.
If we try to correct your bite while your teeth are still crooked, your bite will be inaccurate and will need to be corrected again later. Treatment needs to be done in phases.
It usually takes several weeks or even a few months to correct your bite and remove that odd feeling, though the feeling will likely change during that time as your teeth realign.
If the feeling that your bite is off doesn't change, give us a call. You may still feel like your bite is off, but it may feel different over time. It will only be a problem if your bite doesn't change at all, even after several weeks.
Braces and Invisalign treatment can make your mouth feel strange for a while, but it’s perfectly normal. The result is a beautiful smile and a bite that chews food efficiently and won’t cause excessive tooth wear.
Start a virtual consult with Zombek Orthodontics for orthodontic treatment in Weston, FL, or Hollywood, FL. Let us show you how amazing a new smile can look and feel.
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