Many people get orthodontic help for purely cosmetic reasons. They want a straighter smile or wish to reduce the effects of having an overbite or some other tooth misalignment. Getting teeth straightened can improve your overall dental health as well.
Yes, your smile will be more attractive — but orthodontic treatments provide benefits that improve health and make brushing and flossing easier.
When Should I Get My Teeth Straightened?
The best time to have orthodontic work (like traditional metal braces or Invisalign treatments) is when you are young. It is easier and quicker to adjust teeth into a proper position for teens and young adults. That said, adults can definitely benefit from orthodontic therapy. In fact, an increasing number of people over the age of 25 undergo teeth straightening treatment to improve both comfort and look of their smiles.
Here are 10 benefits you can expect from having your teeth straightened:
- An improved smile – Many people have teeth straightened primarily for cosmetic reasons. Straight, clean teeth make a smile look more attractive to most of us. Some people are self-conscious about a so-called “crooked smile” In such cases, orthodontic work can help boost self-confidence and build self-esteem.Beyond that, straight teeth have many health benefits for the following reasons. Keep reading!
- Easier cleaning – Clean teeth are health and straight teeth are much easier to clean than crooked teeth. When teeth are not straight they can overlap, creating pockets for food and bacteria. A toothbrush can more easily access the faces of straight teeth, making it easier for a patient to remove tartar and plaque. Get your teeth straightened to remove spaces where bacteria can hide.
- Healthier gums – Regular flossing is a key to having healthy gums. Straight teeth allow you to floss between them more easily as well as cleaning plaque that could reach the gum line. Inflamed gums become sensitive and make eating uncomfortable. Gum infections can lead to complications like gum disease or bone loss. Orthodontic work gives your mouth better protection and helps avoid infected gums.
- Improved bite – Straight teeth are key to developing a proper bite. When properly aligned, teeth work better alongside each other, tearing or grinding food and getting each bite ready to swallow. When teeth do not line up with each other properly (called a “bad bite”), chewing can be difficult. The awkward chewing motions of such a bad bite might wear down the enamel layer. Orthodontic therapy corrects a patient’s bite, helping to prevent tooth enamel from breaking down prematurely.
- Reduced jaw pain – A bad bite also affects how well jaws fit together when we close our mouths. When teeth are misaligned, the force of the bite can put uneven pressure on some teeth, resulting in bruxism (tooth grinding), facial pain, headaches and even bad breath. This additional stress could also lead to both broken teeth and jaw pain.
- Better speaking ability – Misalignment can make it difficult to enunciate and be understood. A gap might create a whistling sound through the teeth when talking. An “open bite” could cause a lisp. Orthodontic work can help the mouth move more naturally and create sounds more easily. Improved speech is a great addition to the improved appearance orthodontic work often provides and may help boost your confidence in social settings and ability to communicate.
- Reduced grinding and clenching – When jaws are not aligned properly, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) can be a result. This issue can lead to grinding and clenching of teeth. Constant grinding can lead to long-term jaw and neck pain and can also strain teeth and jaw bones, causing them to degrade over time. Orthodontic therapy can provide a solution to grinding and prevent bone loss, which eventually affects facial structure.
- Lessens headaches – TMD can also cause recurring headaches, especially when awake. Your jaw naturally wants to be aligned when you sleep. Crooked teeth cause the jaw to make efforts throughout the night to find a good resting position. This continual motion can aggravate muscles at the top of the jaw, causing tenderness and soreness. This can lead to recurrent headaches. Straight teeth have a better-aligned bite, reducing the likelihood of TMD.
- Reduced risk of sleep apnea – Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. It causes a person to repeatedly stop breathing, depriving the body of oxygen. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to significant health complications. Talk to your dentist if you have symptoms of sleep apnea so it can be detected early.Crowded teeth are also often associated with a narrow jaw and breathing airway. This lack of space can create the possibility of developing sleep apnea. Another contributing factor to sleep apnea is a misaligned jaw. When the jaw is properly aligned, soft tissues in your mouth are less likely to obstruct breathing.Straightening teeth can help keep airways clear and provide enough oxygen to the body and brain when you sleep.
- Protects your smile from accidents – When there is impact to the mouth (e.g. during a fall or being hit in the face while playing sports), crooked or projecting teeth are more likely to break than straight ones. If they project forward inside your mouth (called an “overjet”), they may be more likely to take the brunt of a hit to the face. Straightening teeth can help protect them from daily wear, and from sudden impacts.
Having orthodontic work done can improve your physical appearance. (After reading all this, we know there is more to it than that!) Your dental (and overall) health will improve now that it is easier to clean every surface of newly straightened teeth. With less bacteria and plaque in the mouth, you will be less prone to developing cavities or gum disease.
Why Should I Straighten My Teeth?
Having your teeth straightened will slow the wear of tooth enamel and may reduce the rate of bone decay in the jaws. It can also protect any patient from the more indirect complications of a crooked smile (e.g. TMD, sleep apnea and headaches). Consider orthodontic therapy to improve your dental health, increase your confidence and reduce other health risks.
For cosmetic dentist in Brampton, call Springdale Dental Centre. We provide warm, personal care for our patients. We will put you at ease by reviewing your treatment options, creating an individualized plan that suits your needs and answering any questions you might have. Our team is committed to the highest level of service to improve your smile and overall dental health. Contact us at (905) 458-1212. We are ready to help.
