A beautiful smile can light up a room, but the benefits of a perfect smile go beyond aesthetics. Straight teeth can have a significant impact on your oral health. By aligning your teeth and perfecting your bite, braces and clear aligners help protect your teeth from plaque, defend your gums from gingivitis, and assist the structural foundation of your smile. Read on to learn the many reasons why orthodontics can transform lives!
Daily oral health
When teeth are crowded together, it can be easy for nooks and crannies to get less attention during your daily oral hygiene routine. Straight teeth make it very easy to brush and floss, protecting both your teeth from plaque and your gums from inflammation and disease. With crooked teeth, the likelihood of poor oral hygiene increases dramatically; the risk for dental complications such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss likewise increases. When left untreated, gum disease can damage bone and even lead to tooth loss. Studies show that the bacteria in gum disease are connected to everything from heart disease to Alzheimer’s. By choosing orthodontic treatment and enjoying an oral hygiene boost, you can set up your smile for success!
Wear and tear
An aligned smile keeps your day-to-day life running smoothly. When teeth sit awkwardly in the mouth, they can lead to several problems—with each bite or chew you take. A bad bite, or malocclusion, means that your upper and lower jaws and teeth do not fit together correctly. This causes teeth to rub together or close improperly, leading to chipping, cracking, or excessive wear.
Teeth have a protective outer layer called enamel. Enamel helps defend the inner layers of the tooth (dentin and pulp) from daily life. Worn enamel from a poor bite may increase the risk of issues like decay and cavities. With an aligned smile and regular checkups, you can avoid the hassle—and pain—these issues can cause.
Reducing risks for TMJ
Aligned teeth help create an even bite, which can reduce your risk for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The TMJ is a hinge that connects skull bones in front of your ears to your jaw. This joint is crucial for moving your mouth, enabling speech, and chewing. With misalignment, the TMJ can cause painful issues like migraines, jaw locking, and stiffness. Braces or other orthodontic treatments can reduce your risk for these uncomfortable disorders.
Smile confidence
In addition to boosting your oral health, straight teeth can also give you a confidence boost. Smiling not only affects how you look but also how you feel. Self-consciousness causes people to hide their smiles or avoid smiling altogether. When you are confident in your smile and smile often, you’ll enjoy lower stress and anxiety levels—plus a boost to your immune system. A gorgeous grin can help keep you physically and mentally healthy!
Book an appointment
At Hutta Orthodontic Specialists, we want all our patients to love their grins. Our experts will help guide you through your options to ensure that your smile shines as bright as you do! Schedule an appointment by calling us at (614) 885-2000.