The teeth should not touch ever – except when swallowing. This comes as a big surprise to most people. When not chewing or swallowing, the tip of the tongue should rest gently on the tip and back of the lower incisors.
You may not have realized this, but teeth are not meant to touch. It sounds odd, but think about it. They don't touch while you speak, smile or rest. Even when you chew, your teeth only have to be close enough to mash food, not necessarily touch.
While clenching your teeth together, the top and bottom front teeth should overlap slightly. The Side: At the side, your teeth should lock easily in together like cogs in a wheel. The top teeth should sit just on the outside of the bottom teeth, so they fit snugly together.
In an ideal bite, the edges of your top teeth should follow the curve of your bottom lip. When your teeth are clenched together, about 90% of your bottom teeth should be visible. A 'deep bite' occurs when your upper teeth cover too much of your bottom teeth, which can lead to tooth wear and damage.
When you close your mouth, the edges of the upper and lower front teeth come together (edge-to-edge bite of the front teeth). In more pronounced overbites, the lower front teeth might even be in front of the upper front teeth when the person closes their mouth. Underbites are usually caused by a protruding lower jaw.
Ways to tell if your bite may be off:
One side of your teeth feels higher than the other. You touch down on one tooth before the others. It is tender to chew on that tooth/side of the mouth. Something just feels different than it did before.
The extent of incisal tooth display at rest is an important esthetic factor in evaluating the outcome of fixed and removable prosthodontic procedures [1]. Accepted prosthodontics guidelines recommend displaying 2–4 mm in the arrangement of upper incisor teeth below the relaxed lip [2].
When your mouth is at rest, your tongue should be against the roof of your mouth, but it should not be pressing against any of your teeth. Your teeth should be slightly apart, and your lips should be closed.
Proper oral resting posture is achieved when the following is present: mouth is closed with teeth touching (or just slightly apart) lips are closed. tongue is resting on the roof of your mouth (the hard palate)
Lip incompetence is often an indication of nasal obstruction, sleep-disordered breathing, and enlarged tonsils. If the upper dental arch changes (narrow or high), it takes the space of nasal sinuses and inhibits nasal breathing.
After a meal or an acidic drink, chew sugarless gum, and if possible it is best if it contains xylitol. The action of chewing gum encourages the mouth to make saliva, which over time will restore pH balance.
The standard resting position has the teeth not touching each other; when the mouth is closed the teeth are slightly apart.
The upper and lower front teeth should lightly touch. From the top of the bottom of the mouth: the back teeth should be upright and should not tip forward or out towards the cheek or tongue.
A helpful mnemonic to remember the timing of primary eruption is the 7+4 rule. At 7 months of age, children should have their first teeth; at 11 months (4 months later), they should have 4 teeth.
The results in normal subjects suggest that as the clenching intensity increases in the intercuspal position, the bite force adjusts to a position where it is well-balanced. This adjustment may prevent damage and overload to the teeth and temporomandibular joints.
Your bite is unique and important as it can affect your oral health. When you bite, your dentist is checking how your upper and lower teeth align and meet. Bites can affect your oral hygiene, long term wear and tear and may even contribute to functional problems or speech issues.
On almost any surface, a thin layer of bacteria known as biofilm can stick. That's why your gums and teeth feel like they've been covered in slime when you wake up in the morning. Biofilm is normal and happens to everyone—even if you brush, floss and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.
Dark spots on or over your teeth indicate that they are decaying. If you notice any discolouration, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. If left untreated, blackened teeth will cause decay to spread throughout a single tooth and may even spread to other teeth.
The rate of tooth decay in people over 65 now outpaces that of schoolchildren. A prime target of dental caries in older adults is around the neck of the tooth, adjacent to the gum line. Gum tissue naturally recedes with age, so the soft root tissue becomes exposed.
In some severe cases, your dental professional may recommend orthognathic surgery of your jaw. This procedure involves adjusting or repositioning your upper or lower jaw and is often used in combination with orthodontic correction like braces.
Maybe you think that the neglect is so far gone that no dentist could ever help you. This is not true. A dentist can restore your neglected teeth.
Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.