Are There Health Benefits To Straight Teeth?

Straight teeth look beautiful, but did you also know having aligned teeth has several health benefits? Beyond the symmetrical appearance, straight teeth offer numerous dental advantages and overall health improvements. So in simple words, straight teeth translate to healthy teeth.

It is no surprise that millions of people worldwide wear braces, primarily to have a perfectly aligned dental setup. But the benefits of straight teeth go far beyond the cosmetics, as your oral health improves with straight dentures. 

Earlier, orthodontics was primarily considered a procedure for children and teenagers, but it is now widespread in adults, too, as people become increasingly aware of how straight dentitions can prevent a sleuth of medical issues.

Here we will look at some of the topmost benefits of getting perfectly aligned teeth.

Advantages of Straight Teeth

About forty percent of the UK population is unhappy about their dental appearance. If you have crooked dentures, it hurts your self-esteem and keeps you from smiling, and you do not feel good about yourself. 

So one of the most significant benefits of well-aligned teeth is a boost in self-confidence which allows you to socialize more, make more friends, and even create great strides in your career. Some of the other less obvious but significant advantages of straight dentures are:

• You can clean your mouth more quickly and correctly – If you have crooked teeth, it is difficult to clean the oral area because the crookedness creates hidden pockets, which your brush can not reach. Due to this, plaque accumulates easily and propagates the spread of bacteria. With straight teeth, you can quickly get into the crevices to brush and floss smoothly. You also get more room for your toothbrush bristles to get between the teeth and clean them thoroughly. So, if your teeth are not straight, you are inviting more plaque and bacteria, which can result in periodontal diseases.
• Chewing and biting are easier – Your bite becomes proper by straightening your pearly whites. With misaligned dentition, biting and chewing involve heavy work of muscles. Crookedness also leads to more wear and tear on your dentures since your teeth do not meet adequately. The tooth enamel would erode faster, which could lead to pain, discoloration, and sensitivity. Your gum line could also get notched, and you could even experience an abnormal flattening of the biting surface. Such wear and tear have a high chance of leading to periodontal diseases.
• Better digestion – Since your chewing becomes better when you have straight teeth, it leads to better digestion since chewing is the beginning of the digestion process. If you chew your food thoroughly, it enhances digestion. Moreover, if you do not chew food correctly, it makes your intestines and stomach work harder. All of this results in less nutrition intake by your body, and you could experience stomach problems. 
• You can avoid jaw pain and strain – You do not have to put unnecessary stress on your gums, jaw bones, or joints while eating with straight pearly whites. But misaligned teeth can contribute to the misalignment of the jaw bone. While eating or speaking, people with crooked teeth usually alter their jaw to correct movements. Such pressure could lead to chronic facial and neck pain or even frequent headaches. Once you align your teeth, you also achieve correct jaw alignment, allowing your TMJ (temporomandibular joints) to work smoothly without extra pressure. Your muscles are more relaxed, and no more clenching or grinding is involved. You would also notice your headaches and migraines become less frequent.
• Clearer and improved speech – You might need to be made aware that your pearly whites have a significant role in the quality of your speech. If you have gapped, crowded, or protruding teeth, it negatively impacts your speaking patterns. You can get clearer speech once you opt to correct and straighten your mouth structure.
• Your life span increases with straight teeth – Many life-threatening medical issues can be prevented if you keep your pearly whites free from bacteria which is possible if you have straight dentition. Many studies show that diabetes, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer, etc., directly connect with oral health. For instance, someone with periodontitis has a twenty-four percent more chance of developing lung cancer than those with healthy gums.
• Fewer chips, breaks, or cracks – If you fall or meet with an accident, your protruded or crooked teeth are more likely to break or crack than straight ones. With misaligned pearly whites, you are also more likely to bite your tongue and cheeks often, which could give rise to painful sores. Straight teeth protect against breaks, chips, cracks, or sores.

 

Straight teeth offer numerous benefits besides improving appearance, and it is not always an invasive procedure. There are many options in the market, like Invisalign, porcelain veneers, ceramic braces, lingual braces, etc., which could straighten your pearly whites and enhance your appearance, boost your confidence, and increase longevity.