Crooked teeth are often viewed as a simple cosmetic issue, one that you can choose to get fixed but won’t impact your long-term health if left untreated. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The benefits of straight teeth go far beyond just contributing to a beautiful smile, and having straighter teeth bodes incredibly well for both your dental and general health.
In dentistry, crooked and misaligned teeth which cause issues in the alignment of the upper and lower set are called malocclusions. Nearly 75% of adults are affected by some form of malocclusion, which comes in a variety of different types, including overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites.
Crooked and misaligned teeth are common dental issues, but they can also cause serious problems if left untreated. In fact, the situation is likely to worsen as time passes, so taking steps to correct this type of issue early can save you time, money, stress, and discomfort. If you’re not convinced that straighter teeth will have a positive impact on your life, below we’ve outlined four major health benefits of having straighter teeth:
Straight Teeth Last Longer
Biting and chewing generate quite a bit of pressure. Teeth that are properly aligned handle it without any issue, but the same can’t be said of teeth that are affected by a malocclusion. Problems with biting put excessive stress on areas that aren’t designed to cope with it-resulting in premature wearing down of the teeth. Over time, this can lead to chipping, notching at the gum line, abnormal flattening of the biting surface, and fractures along the edges of the teeth. This damage is often unattractive, and worse, it weakens your teeth, ups your risk for periodontal issues, and increases the likelihood that you’ll need invasive dental treatment to repair your smile.
Straight Teeth Reduce the Risk of Jaw Problems
A bad bite strains more than just your teeth; it also stresses the joints of the jaw. The temporomandibular joints are the hinged joints that connect your jaw to your skull near your ears. When these joints and the muscles that support them are irritated by the strain generated by crooked or misaligned teeth, you can find yourself dealing with jaw pain, dizziness, earaches, ringing in your ears, and headaches. In fact, individuals struggling with jaw pain and persistent headaches may find that treating their malocclusion provides welcome relief from these problems.
Straight Teeth Help You Avoid Periodontal Disease
Straight teeth make it easier to avoid periodontal disease as they’re far easier to keep clean. Crooked and misaligned teeth can make it incredibly difficult to remove bacteria, and lingering bacteria is what triggers periodontal disease. In its earliest stages, periodontal disease leads to redness, tenderness, and bleeding when you brush or floss. Over time, the infection progresses, causing chronic inflammation and damage to the soft tissue. If the process is allowed to continue unchecked, first the gums begin to recede, then bone is lost. Eventually, tooth loss occurs.
Straight Teeth Protect Your Overall Health
By making it easier to practice effective dental hygiene that removes bacteria before it causes a problem, straight teeth protect your overall health. An infection that begins in your mouth has the potential to endanger your entire body, as harmful bacteria that attacks the gum tissue doesn’t stop there. It can also travel through the blood vessels and enter your blood stream- once there, it can damage your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions. In caring for your teeth and gums, you can help your entire body.
I think we’ve proven rather conclusively that having straight teeth benefits your entire body. Here at JL Dental Care, we offer a special type of orthodontics called FASTBRACES®, which can have results in just 4 months! If you would like to learn more abo
ut the types of orthodontics we offer, or have any queries about your oral health, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 020 8958 0136. Regardless of your age, you don’t need to live with crooked teeth!
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