Many people seeking orthodontic treatment are only thinking of improving their physical appearance. A person’s face is one of the first things you see and one of the main ways you distinguish between one person and another. Your personal identity and self-esteem can be directly tied to your feelings about our appearance. For these reasons, it is only natural to want a beautiful, straight smile. However, there are a variety of crucial health benefits that come from straighter teeth.
Malocclusion, i.e. misaligned or crowded teeth, crossbites, overbites, underbites, etc., is a common yet often overlooked risk to your health. Simply put, it’s a misalignment, but the potential health issues can be quite serious. So, not only does addressing alignment issues improve the aesthetic appeal of your smile (and your confidence), it also improves your ability to maintain the health of your teeth.
Lower dental costs in the long term
By straightening your teeth, you can correct a variety of dental issues. The most obvious of which are crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and gaps between teeth. With these issues corrected, you can save money at your future dental visits. Straighter teeth are easier to clean since bacteria, plaque and tartar have fewer places to hide.
Oral hygiene = overall health
Even minor misalignment can cause dental health issues down the road. Crowding and overlapping make it especially difficult to clean in between teeth, allowing food, sugars, and bacteria to become trapped. This obviously causes decay and cavities.
Crooked teeth make tight angles where it is difficult for brushes and floss to reach. When it’s harder to brush and floss properly, plaque and tartar begin to build up under the gumline and can cause bacterial growth and inflammation that irritates gums and makes them bleed. Gum disease, called periodontal disease, can eventually lead to tooth loss, and untreated gum disease can be a factor in heart disease and diabetes.
Straight teeth are even easier for regular cleanings and exams at the dentist’s office. Crowding and plaque deposits make it hard to find decay or cavities without the help of x-rays. Straight teeth help your dentist spot potential issues early when they are easier to treat.
Its simple, straight teeth are easier to keep clean which can lower your dental cleaning cost, but it can improve your overall oral hygiene (if you follow a regular cleaning routine). With good oral hygiene, you lower your risk for cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease while increasing your overall health.
