Straight teeth are more than just aesthetically pleasing. They can also provide many benefits for a patient’s overall health. About twenty-five percent of America’s more than four million braces patients are adults seeking better alignments for their smiles. While this can certainly provide a confidence boost, it can also be an investment in their future well-being. Here are a few ways straighter teeth can improve your overall health.
Straight Teeth Help You Digest
Whether teeth are naturally straight or straightened by orthodontic treatments, they are better at chewing when they’re properly aligned. When someone’s teeth are all neatly in a row, they can exert an even chewing pressure that can more easily pulverize food into a more digestible state. This makes it easier for the body to absorb nutrients from it and move it through the digestive tract, helping someone get all the nutrients they need while promoting a healthy gut.
Straight Teeth Are Easier to Clean
When teeth are misaligned, they can be easier to injure due to an uneven bite and harder to clean when they improperly overlap one another. This can make it easier to develop tooth decay and gum disease. Straight teeth are easy to brush and floss, making it a simpler task to prevent the growth of plaque and the development of oral infections.
Straight Teeth Prevent Lower Neck and Head Pain
Chewing and speaking with an improperly aligned bite can put a lot of strain on the temporomandibular joints over time. The stress can cause the muscles and connective tissue therein to become inflamed, which can lead to chronic pain in the neck, face, and jaw. Straight teeth allow the jaw to move more fluidly, which reduces strain and prevents it from frequently becoming exhausted.
Straight Teeth Are Harder to Injure
Crooked or protruding teeth can be easy to break if you bite with them improperly or are struck in the mouth. Chips, cracks, and fractures can erode their ability to chew as well as expose their interior layers to bacteria that can cause nasty infections. Teeth in these positions can also more easily bite the cheeks, lips, or tongue. Straighter teeth are in safer positions and share the pressures of chewing, which helps them all stay intact and strong for the long run.
Having straight teeth can make a huge difference for your overall health and well-being. If your teeth aren’t as straight as you’d like them to be, orthodontic procedures can help you realign them into healthier positions. Consulting with your dentist can help determine which treatments may be right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Randy Machen earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Tennessee in 1987 and has undergone state-of-the-art training in BOTOX and TMJ treatments. He proudly serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the Arkansas State Dental Association, and the Center District Dental Society. His office has three locations in Little Rock, AR offering preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as orthodontic treatments. For more information on what orthodontics can do for you, contact his office online.