Are braces allowed if crooked teeth cause medical problems?
Assalam o alailkum,
I am confused again so please clarify my points. In my previous post I got completely different answer. Let me explain you my problem I have both overbite and under-bite; my teeth are in kind of zig-Zag positions which cause inflammation of gums often. I used to have severe tooth pain in my childhood because my teeth are unevenly arranged but now I have very rare pain but I often get inflammation of gums. I can't eat properly but at the same time I want my teeth to look good I mean normal not beautiful I don't know is this reason for beautification? I even want my smile to be good not ugly so, what should I do ? If Islam doesn't allow me then I'll distance myself from it. I was kind of confused due to the below comment kindly explain me clearly.
True, sometimes we get crooked teeth through an accident or mouth deformity. But for most, teeth grow in either straight or crooked. Crooked teeth are not considered a deformity. Some people have overbites that are unattractive but don't cause any problems, and some people have underbites that are unattractive but don't cause problems. Sometimes the front teeth aren't straight and look "crowded" (i.e. bunched together). This is not a deformity - its just the way the teeth were grown in. I myself had an overbite that was not overly unsightly, but, my parents wanted me to have nice, straight teeth and a nice smile. I think the latter is the reason most people get braces. To validate my point, braces are almost never covered by insurance, because they are consdered cosmetic.
So to clarify your point (because I'm not sure if it is clear) - are braces allowed only if the crooked teeth cause medical problems? They are not allowed if they are merely to straighten the teeth to promote a nicer smile?
allah hafiz,
saniyah
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Salaam Saniyah.
It would depend on the individual case. E.g.I had a friend who had very very crooked teeth which were noticable and unsightly. She had them corrected. Allah swt knows best but I think if they are very very bad then it is not classed as cosmetic. There was also a concern that when her wisdom teeth grew in later years it would cause problems for her.
If the teeth are not that bad then it would be classed as cosmetic, if they are only to make a nicer smile. E.g I had straight teeth as kid but a gap between my front teeth. I didnt know it was haraam (in my case - it would have been cosmetic) then so I went to get braces. I was told I'd have to pay £2,000 so I didnt have them. Some years later 1 of the filling on teeth broke. (It was broken from crazy childhood games.) I had it fixed which is allowed and after it was done the gap was smaller! SubhanAllah my smile was fixed without me committing haraam. Allah works in mysterious ways Alhumdulilah!
Anyway I am digressing. Sister, Allah does not want to put hardship in your way. If you have had inflammation of the gums and had other problems in childhood then get braces while you still can. There is nothing wrong with wanting your teeth to look good as long as the reasons are not just to look good. If they honestly have caused you problems then it is perfectly allowed for you to get them. Why dont you speak to your dentist if you are concerned to see if they will be a problem.
Sara
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