Like a lot of folks now, you may think orthodontic work only has cosmetic perks. That wouldn’t be a surprise – most people want aligned smiles because they look pretty and pleasing. Even so, you’d be wrong to hold this view; the health benefits of straight teeth are real. If you were to fix your grin with braces or aligners, it’d make your whole body stronger and livelier. As for proof of these claims, here are some health-related perks to having straight teeth.
Improved Digestive Health
It’s hard to see any connection between your stomach and a straight smile. However, the truth is that well-aligned teeth improve your digestive health.
The fact is that a crooked grin can’t chew food well. Since its teeth aren’t in the correct positions, it breaks food apart inefficiently and hinders digestion. In contrast, a straight smile chews food thoroughly and speeds up digestion. The result is that it helps you get more nutrition from meals.
Lower Neck & Jaw Pain
A straight smile doesn’t just look good; it can also ‘feel’ good. More specifically, having one will reduce your lower neck and jaw pain.
You may not have known, but crooked teeth can trigger chronic neck and jaw pain. Their misaligned positions will lead to misalignments in a patient’s jawbone. From there, the bad positioning can lead to chronic pain in your neck, face, and jaw. The good news is that aligning your smile fixes these issues, reducing the pressure on your jawbone.
Easier Oral Care
Once your smile is straight, its appearance isn’t the only thing that’ll change. Your grin will also get healthier as it becomes easier to look after.
As it turns out, crooked teeth tend to be unhealthy. They trap more bacteria and plaque as they’re left untreated, and they can irritate and inflame your gums. Thankfully, straightening your teeth with orthodontics would make them easier to clean. You could brush and floss more easily, reducing your risk of severe oral health issues.
Less Smile-Related Wear & Tear
Straight teeth aren’t just safer from bacteria. As they get rid of their crookedness, they also suffer less wear and tear.
You see, teeth suffer more damage when they’re crooked. Biting with them puts pressure on their surfaces, resulting in the gradual erosion of your enamel. Still, teeth straightened by orthodontics address this problem. They’ll handle biting and chewing without issues, so they’ll be safer from breaks and fractures.
Given the points above, you should keep the health benefits of straight teeth in mind. Remember them as you consider whether to pursue orthodontic care!
About the Practice
Casady Square Orthodontics is based in Oklahoma City, OK. Led by Dr. Payam Ishani, our practice combines cutting-edge smile alignment with warm and friendly service. The result is our wide range of custom orthodontic services, ranging from traditional braces and retainers to clear Invisalign aligners. These procedures can straighten even the most crooked grin, so please see us soon! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (405)-254-5094.