It is often perceived that teeth straightening is all about having a beautiful smile. While that is true, it can improve multiple aspects of your health as well.
According to the American Association of Orthodontics, teeth straightening can improve dental problems such as gum disease, tooth decay and difficulty chewing.
As you can see, having crooked or gapped teeth is more than a self-confidence deteriorator.
We would like to share the top three reasons why having straight teeth is beneficial to more than your appearance.
1. Improves Your Oral Hygiene
Having straight teeth will allow for easy and efficient cleaning. Food can get stuck in your teeth if you have crooked teeth. Brushing and flossing may not be able to completely remove all of the food and bacteria from your mouth if you have crooked teeth.
When you have straight teeth and your teeth are clean, it will improve your overall oral hygiene, including your gum health. Gum disease is more prone to those who have crooked teeth or overly gapped teeth. Gum disease is caused by an excessive amount of plaque build up in your mouth that can lead to tooth loss if not treated properly.
2. Prevents Bad Breath
Bad breath is caused by poor hygiene, eating foods with strong odors, such as onions and garlic, and crooked teeth. All of the food you eat begins to break down in your mouth, which means your mouth and teeth are the front line offense against bad breath.
While brushing your teeth at least twice a day is essential to brush away bacteria and food particles that cause bad breath, crooked teeth can make it difficult to get all of the bacteria out of your mouth. Having straight teeth allows you to easily get into all of the cracks and crevices of your teeth to remove the bacteria and food particles that build up on your teeth and cause bad breath.
3. Decreases Headaches and Neck Pain
If you have chronic headaches, your first thought might not be to make a trip to the orthodontics. But, believe it or not, crooked teeth can actually cause headaches, jaw aches, face pain, and neck pain. If your teeth are crooked, it can place an intense amount of stress on both your gums and the bones that support your teeth.
If your teeth are not aligned properly, it causes your jaw to go into overdrive while it picks up the slack of the tasks that straight teeth are in charge of. This overdrive of the jaw can, unfortunately, cause direct damage and inflammation to the joints within the jaw, which is what can cause the pain in your head and neck.
Crooked teeth can also result in TMJ disorder, which is a painful imbalance within your jaw’s muscles and joints. While TMJ can be treated with self-management practices, severe cases of TMJ may require surgery.
Teeth Straightening Can Change Your Life
Many people associate teeth straightening with having a pretty, white smile, but it is so much more than that. Even if you are self-conscious about having metal braces as an adult, you can always opt for clear aligners that are just as beneficial as the traditional braces.
For more tips and tricks about healthy living, visit our page dedicated to implementing the healthiest lifestyle for you.