Resting teeth means they are sitting dormant and it also means they're not interacting with anything else like food, your tongue, or each other. The standard resting position has the teeth not touching each other; when the mouth is closed the teeth are slightly apart.
Your jaw opening and closing is the mechanism that allows us to bite, chew, and speak properly. The mandibles are strong bones that can generate a lot of power when they open and close. This power is the exact reason why your teeth should only touch when you're eating.
There should be a little overlap of the top and bottom teeth at the front of your bite—usually around 4mm. But you should still be able to see 90% or around of your bottom teeth. Any less and you may have what is known as a 'deep' bite. The top teeth should also be a little bit in front of the bottom teeth.
When we say bite, what we're talking about is the way your upper and lower jaw come together. Your upper teeth should fit slightly over your lower teeth and the points of your molars should fit the grooves of the opposite molar. If your jaw lines up like this, you most likely have a healthy bite.
Awareness of habits or jaw use patterns
The teeth are supposed to make contact during eating and swallowing, but at no other time. When the jaw is not working during eating. swallowing, yawning and talking, the teeth should be apart and the jaw should be at rest.
Perfect oral rest posture is when your tongue is entirely against the roof of your mouth and does not touch the back of your front upper teeth. Your teeth are also slightly apart, and your lips can close over your teeth without stretching.
Ideally you want to be able to open and close your mouth without strain or tension and without your jaw clenching. Your jaw should feel free to move up and down as well as sideways. In addition, it should never be forced open too wide beyond your comfort level.
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].
Lip incompetence, also known as mentalis strain, refers to a condition characterized by an inability to easily hold the lips together while at rest. Other common features of lip incompetence include protruding lips, and strain in the lower facial region when you try to seal your lips.
Teeth misalignment is an actual condition, which is also known as malocclusion of teeth. Malocclusion occurs when your teeth do not align when the jaw is closed. This can be due to crooked teeth, underbite or overbite.
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.
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.
Proper oral posture means that at rest the tongue is to the roof of the mouth, the teeth are touching or slightly apart, and the lips are together without strain. When a child grows up with proper oral posture the face develops in appropriate balance according to its genetic plan.
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.
pain in the TMJ joint that gets worse when you move your jaw. changes to your bite — your teeth don't line up properly. problems with talking. being unable to move the jaw or close your mouth properly.
An uneven bite can cause unneeded strain in the jaw muscles, which ultimately can lead to pain and discomfort. In some cases, this could even cause TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) as a result of the jaw facing considerable pressure as a result of the misalignment.
Shifting of the Teeth
The reason that your teeth may not line up as they once did is that the ball and socket joints are often out of alignment and, as mentioned above, often very inflamed as a result. In order to correct the problem, the doctor may prescribe dental orthotics such as a lower jaw splint.
The backs of the upper front teeth should rest in gentle contact with the fronts of the lower ones. Essentially, your bite should “close”. If your front upper teeth stick out past your lower teeth, this is called an overbite. If your front upper teeth are behind your lower teeth, the is called an underbite.
First, lets look at the correct tongue rest posture (day and night when not eating, drinking, or talking). The tip of the tongue should sit on the bumpy tissue of the hard palate directly behind the top front two teeth (the oval shape on the picture below). It should not be touching the teeth.
Loose teeth are normal for a child, but loose adult teeth are a cause for concern. If a tooth feels loose, you might notice that it is possible to wiggle the tooth. It is also possible that you may find a loose tooth by touching it during normal activities, such as eating or drinking.
If you've noticed a slight change in your smile or teeth alignment, it may be an indication that your bite has shifted. This condition is known as malocclusion and results from crooked or crowded teeth and misalignment between the lower and upper dental arches.
FROM THE FRONT: your upper front teeth should fall in front of your lower teeth (toward your lip), and should overlap them by about 2 mm. Upper and lower front teeth should hit lightly. FROM THE TOP (OR BOTTOM): The back teeth should be upright, NOT tipped toward the cheek or tongue.