If you’ve heard of orthodontics before, you likely know already that completing treatments like braces and Invisalign can make your smile straighter and more attractive. However, orthodontics hardly provide a cosmetic benefit alone. There are many health benefits associated with having straight teeth, according to dentists and orthodontists alike. From better digestion to the reduction of chronic discomfort in the neck and head, there are many positives you can look forward to following the completion of your orthodontic treatment!
Better Chewing, Better Digestion
Straighter teeth are generally more effective at processing food. If you’re eating food that’s not properly broken down before it reaches your stomach, it can put additional stress on your digestive system. Additionally, your body is less capable of extracting nutrients from food if it’s not processed effectively. In some cases, poorly processed food can even lead to an unhealthy gut, causing upset stomach, sleep disturbances, constant fatigue, and food intolerances.
Keep Your Smile Cleaner
When teeth are crowded or gapped, they can easily become irritated and inflamed. This is generally a sign of gum disease. If your teeth have fewer gaps and spaces for plaque and tartar to collect, you don’t have to work as hard to keep them clean when brushing and flossing.
Boosted Self-Confidence
Straighter teeth are generally seen as more attractive, which means you just might notice a difference not just in the way others perceive you, but how you perceive yourself. When you feel comfortable showing your smile off to others, both your self-confidence and self-esteem get a notable boost.
Improved Bite Alignment
If you have crooked teeth, there’s a good chance that your bite is also misaligned in some way. This can lead to increased wear and tear on enamel as you bite down and chew food. Straightened teeth distribute biting forces more effectively, reducing the risk of notches at the gum line, fractures, and flattening of the biting surfaces.
When teeth becomes chipped, cracked or damaged in some way, they will not grow back or repair themselves. Only restorative dentistry can bring them back to their original luster. That makes orthodontics a great preventive option for long-term problems.
Less Neck and Head Pain
Another common side effect of jaw misalignment is disproportionate force on the joints that attach the jaw to the skull (also known as the TMJ). This can lead to chronic discomfort not just in the jaw, but the face and neck as well as frequent headaches.
Orthodontic treatment can make your teeth straight, but it’s hardly the only reason to invest in your smile. Get in touch with a dentist today and start your smile transformation.
About Mt. Holly Family Dentistry
Operated by a team of highly trained dental professionals, Mt. Holly Family Dentistry is proud to offer multiple solutions for crooked, rotated, gapped, or otherwise misaligned teeth. They’ll gladly answer all of your questions ahead of treatment, giving you future confidence in the realignment of your smile. To schedule an appointment with their office, you can contact them through their website.