The Benefits of Straight Teeth: A Closer Look
Did you know that 9 out of 10 people have teeth that are misaligned to some degree? Many people think that having straight teeth is only a cosmetic worry, but having straight teeth is actually important to your dental health. This is because tooth alignment plays a big part in how people are able to speak, chew food, and clean their teeth.
If you have crooked teeth and even if they are only slightly crooked, they might cause you a lot more problems in the future than you’d expect. Keep reading and learn more about how having straight teeth can benefit you.
Straight Teeth Are Healthy Teeth
Any dentist, including your orthodontist in Castle Pines, will tell you that brushing and flossing your teeth is important. However, if you have crooked teeth, you might not be able to do this as well as people with straight teeth. Normally, when a person brushes their teeth, the bristles of the brush should be able to scrape along every surface of every tooth except for the surfaces bordering another tooth.
To clean the surfaces between teeth, you would use floss instead. However, if your teeth are overlapping each other or are otherwise crowded, you might not be able to do this. The toothbrush’s bristles might only be able to reach certain surfaces of your teeth and not others.
In the same vein, you might not be able to floss because your teeth might be crowded too tightly together. In this case, certain parts of your teeth will remain perpetually unclean and this can lead to many problems such as tooth decay and cavities. If left untreated, these problems can get worse and cause sensitive and painful teeth that might even need to be removed at some point.
This is not to mention that a lot of plaque and tartar can start to build up. When this happens, it can inflame your gums which will then turn into gum disease. If you leave gum disease untreated, it can also lead to tooth loss and infection.
The importance of straight teeth is that you will be able to clean your teeth completely without having to worry about missing any spots. That way, you won’t have to worry about more serious problems down the road such as tooth decay. In the end, you are actually saving yourself money by getting braces early rather than leaving your crooked teeth untreated.
More Comfort
If you have very crooked teeth, you may have a certain degree of discomfort in your jaw and teeth. That’s because crooked teeth can actually affect how your lower jaw sits. If the position of your lower jaw is strained, this can pull the muscles in your jaw, neck, and head over time.
When this happens, this can cause a lot of tension in your temporomandibular joints (TMJ). These joints are the joints that connect your jaw to your skull. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to chew, talk, or otherwise move your jaw up and down or back and forth.
Some people with very crooked teeth and misaligned jaws can experience painful symptoms as a result of too much strain on the temporomandibular joints. Common symptoms may include headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, earaches, and shoulder pain. These symptoms can be difficult to deal with, especially if you have more important things in your life to worry about such as work, school, or family.
Crooked teeth can also contribute to difficulty chewing food and pronouncing certain words. This is because your tongue will not have enough space or the right position to allow for proper speech. As for chewing food, crowded teeth may not be in the right position to bite or tear food.
This can actually lead to more problems such as digestive issues. If you are unable to break down your food into small pieces with your teeth, you may be more likely to experience issues such as acid reflux and poor digestion in general.
By straightening your teeth, you will see that there will be a big improvement in all of these aspects. You will no longer have any strain on your jaw and you will be able to chew and speak much more easily.
More Confidence
People with crooked teeth tend to be self-conscious about their teeth. After all, their smile doesn’t match what is conventionally attractive. As a result, they might even be too self-conscious to smile or laugh out of fear of showing their teeth.
Of course, no one should ever feel self-conscious about their smile. Fortunately, how to straighten teeth is easy and braces or aligners can help solve the problem. There are many different braces you can choose from such as metal braces, ceramic braces, or Invisalign aligners.
Whatever you choose, you will be able to get straight teeth within a year. Depending on how severe the positioning of your teeth is, you may need to wear braces longer than average. However, after a year, your teeth should be mostly straight and you will be able to see how much better your smile will look.
Once you get your braces off, you will find that your teeth will look better than ever. More than that, they will be much more comfortable and much easier to clean.
All about the Benefits of Straight Teeth
Are straight teeth necessary? Of course, they are!
Crooked teeth can cause all sorts of problems such as tooth decay, cavities, digestive problems, and jaw pain. By getting braces from your local orthodontist and straightening your teeth, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of straight teeth in no time.
If you are interested in straightening your teeth, contact us here to learn more.