Clean teeth translate to a brighter smile, a lessened risk of gum disease, fewer cavities, and a myriad of other health benefits. While this may all be common knowledge to most, the benefits of different aspects of oral hygiene often go unsung.
At Oceanfront Dental, we take every part of dental health seriously and are here to promote that. While straight teeth are visually pleasing, they also provide many benefits to your personal health. What follows are just ten of the health benefits of straight teeth.
Healthier Teeth
Simply put, straight teeth are healthier teeth. Straighter teeth mean less food trapped between them, which, in turn, means fewer cavities and tooth decay.
Healthier Gums
The health of your teeth is tied to the health of your gums. Thus, it should come as no surprise that straighter teeth will also lead to healthier gums. Frequently, teeth that are too widely spaced or too crowded will cause red and swollen gums.
Unhealthy gums can eventually develop into gum disease and eventual bone and tooth loss. Straightening your teeth with Invisalign will help your gums fit more securely around your teeth – which will help fight any further periodontal problems.
Easier Cleaning
Perhaps one of the most rewarding benefits to straight teeth is that they are easier to clean. Crowded teeth can be hard to floss, which could result in excessive plaque buildup and eventual tooth decay. Having your teeth straightened, even just a little bit, can make your teeth cleaning markedly easier.
Improved Tooth Longevity
Your teeth take on a lot of wear and tear as they break down food to fuel your body. Teeth that are not straight are prone to more uneven wear and tear, whereas straight teeth work more as they should—relieving pressure on your gums, roots, and mouth and helping your teeth stay healthy for longer.
Less Abnormal Tooth Wear
When teeth are too crowded, they can cause friction with each other and cause inefficient chewing. As teeth rub up against each other in unnatural ways, the enamel can wear down. This causes wear and tear that could otherwise be avoided with straight teeth.
Decrease Risk of Tooth Injury
Again, when teeth are crowded, they are more at risk than straight teeth for a variety of health concerns. Tooth injury is one of them. Crowded or protruding teeth will be broken more often than straight teeth if impacted in a traumatic accident. While these don’t happen often, it is just another reason why pursuing teeth straightening could be right for you.
Improved Speech
Uneven, crooked, or protruding teeth will have a significant impact on your speech. But something as simple as straightening your smile can work wonders. Those new to Invisalign may experience a bit of a lisp at first, but eventually you will be speaking more clearly than you ever have before.
Improved Overall Health
Bad oral hygiene has been linked to all types of other health problems, including kidney and heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Much of this stems from tooth decay and gum disease which, you guessed it, are only further perpetuated by crooked and crowded teeth.
Decreased Headaches or Neck Pain
If it’s not clear by now, crowded and crooked teeth impact far more than just the mouth. Teeth that are not straight place unnecessary stress on the gums and bones that support them, which, in turn, often translates to headaches and neck pain. Straightening your teeth with Invisalign may help with this as well!
Improves Self-esteem and Happiness
Achieving or maintaining positive mental health is a crucial part of your overall well-being. A straight smile, to some, may be a key to that.
Conclusion
It should be clear by now that striving for straight teeth is a critical component of dental health. Thankfully, technology has come a long way.
Every couple of weeks, our dentists at Oceanfront Dental will give you a new set of aligners that, over time, work to straighten your teeth in small increments. Typically, patients with Invisalign will have them for up to a year, though everybody is a little different.