When your smile reveals straight white teeth, that’s a smile that you feel good about showing off! Straight teeth look better than misaligned teeth, there’s no doubt about that. But the benefits of straight teeth go far beyond aesthetics, because straight teeth are better for your oral health.
What are the Health Benefits of Straight Teeth?
Having straight teeth is definitely a confidence-booster. When your smile looks good it lights up your whole face, making you look more attractive, and improving your self-esteem.
But what about the health benefits? There are some obvious health benefits to having straight teeth, and some that aren’t so obvious.
More chewing power
One of the obvious health benefits is simply that straight teeth do a better job of biting and chewing food. This means you can chew your food effectively, which helps your digestive system break down the food you eat, and absorb essential nutrients. And with a good set of straight, healthy teeth, your diet isn’t restricted—so you can enjoy crisp, crunchy foods, including healthy veggies and fruits, along with lots of other fresh delicious produce.
Of course, few people have teeth that are so misaligned that they can’t chew food properly. But there are other reasons why straight teeth are better for your oral health, and your general health.
Cleaner teeth and gums
For instance, straight teeth are easier to clean than crooked teeth are! When teeth are straight, evenly sized, and well-aligned, it’s easier for a toothbrush to brush the surfaces of teeth, and for bristles to brush the tiny spaces between teeth. And it’s also easier to floss the teeth properly as well. If teeth are crooked, or spaced too far apart, it’s very hard to floss effectively. This allows food particles to build up in the spaces between the teeth, leading to a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Less damage to teeth and jaws
Finally, another problem that can arise when teeth are misaligned is that they are vulnerable to wear and tear damage. This can happen when the bite is crooked because some teeth end up wearing faster than others. As a result, some teeth may become so worn that dentin—the sensitive tissue layer beneath the enamel—is exposed. This leads to tooth pain, and a higher risk of decay and infection.
A crooked bite can also cause problems with the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that the lower jaw hinges on. TMJ problems can cause headaches and migraines and other problems that can be very painful.
Talk To Your Dentist About Your Straightening Options
Misaligned teeth can definitely be a problem, but there are solutions! For instance, the Invisalign straightening system can fix mild to moderate alignment problems in a year or two. And for more severe issues, there are traditional braces.
Contact Dr. Norma Fox of Relaxation Dental Spa today!