When people think about braces or invisalign treatments the most prominent reason for undergoing treatment is the cosmetic benefits. However, straight teeth are probably lower on your dentist’s list of priorities. In fact, there are significant health benefits to straightening teeth. Here are 5 reasons you should straighten your teeth:
Healthy Mouth:
Crowded, crooked, and turn teeth can create pockets for food and bacteria. These pockets can be difficult to clean thoroughly. Inability to clean properly will lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Furthermore, if you have difficulty closing your mouth full, or sleep with your mouth open, you are open to even more irritation and inflammation. Straightening your teeth can alleviate most, if not all, of these issues.
Reduced Jaw Pain and Headaches:
When your teeth are crooked or out of alignment, you may develop issues with jaw alignment. Being unable to open and close your jaw smoothly can create tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw. This tension is often painful for patients. Prolonged tension results in headaches and migraines.
Prevent Excessive and Unnatural Wear:
Aligned teeth meet evenly and distribute weight and pressure evenly. Crooked and misaligned teeth wear unevenly leading to tooth breakage. Straightening your teeth can resolve this issue and prevent unnecessary wear. This can reduce the amount of dental intervention required as you age.
Lowering Other Health Risks:
There have been significant studies investigating the link between heart disease and stroke with periodontal disease. Whilst this may seem bizarre, you are up to 35% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease if you have poor oral health. This is in part due to the inflammation and bacteria living in the mouth. Additionally, crooked teeth can also be associated with sleep apnea! Misaligned teeth can cause the mouth, jaw, and neck to sit at unnatural angles. This unnatural angle can lead to constriction of the airways, making the risk of sleep apnea much more prevalent.
Higher Confidence:
While straightening teeth for cosmetic purposes is not the most important reason, it is certainly a consideration. Many patients cite an increase in self-esteem after completing orthodontic work.
If you are interested in hearing more about the health benefits of straightening your teeth, or you would like to book a consultation, contact our friendly team today!