According to the New York Post, seven in ten people are unhappy with their teeth. We all know that straight teeth have aesthetic value. But did you know that they have health benefits too?
If your answer to that question was “No.”, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of seven health benefits associated with having straighter teeth. Read on to find out more.
1. Healthier Teeth and Gums
When your teeth are misaligned or prone to crowding, brushing away bacteria and leftover food can be tricky in the best of times. This can leave you vulnerable to experiencing tooth decay. And if that isn’t concerning enough, when bacteria are allowed to run rampant in your mouth and gum line, you also run the risk of contracting gum disease.
As a general rule of thumb, straight teeth are often easier to clean. The alignment of the straightened teeth gives your toothbrush more room to operate, and it makes your gum line more accessible to your dental floss. This, in turn, makes it easier for you to keep your teeth and gums clean.
In dentistry, an ounce of prevention is very much worth a pound of cure. This is no different. Clean teeth and gums are typically healthy teeth and gums.
2. Reduced Cavities
Even though dental science has become very sophisticated, it’s not always possible to restore a tooth that has a worn-out enamel.
Crooked and misaligned teeth are known for having both spacing and crowding issues. These extra gaps make it harder to get food out of hard-to-reach areas. This unfortunate combination can make you more prone to developing cavities.
At this point, we’re all used to fillings and tooth removals. And if you’ve had to get crowns and cavity fillings put in before, your treatment probably came with a hefty dental bill.
Getting your teeth straightened can reduce cavities while helping out your bank account.
3. Better Digestion
At first glance, this health benefit might sound like an exaggeration. But it makes sense when you think about it.
The first part of digestion involves chewing food. When your teeth are crooked, it’s not always possible to chew properly. This can put a lot of strain on your intestines and your stomach.
Straighter teeth are often able to chew more efficiently. This means that you won’t have to worry about bloating due to a lack of chewing. And you can absorb more nutrients because your digestive system will be able to break down food particles efficiently.
Talk about a win-win situation!
4. Less Head and Neck Pain
Digestion isn’t the only area where straight teeth have the potential to affect more than just your mouth — the muscles around your mouth and jaw also tend to benefit when your teeth are straighter.
Here’s why:
Your teeth may feel like they’re not moving much on a day-to-day basis, but they don’t exist in isolation. The muscles around your jaw and neck are there to support the rest of your mouth. And that includes your teeth.
As your mouth opens and closes; however, crooked teeth often apply uneven amounts of pressure to your jaw. This can lead to headaches and neck pain. If you want to avoid dealing with this set of symptoms, it can’t hurt to try and learn how to straighten your teeth effectively.
5. Better Sleep
Do you find yourself waking up in fits and starts? Are you constantly waking up more tired than when you went to bed?
A lot of people assume that it’s the pillow or that spicy dish they ate before bed. But if you experience these symptoms often, the culprit could actually be your teeth.
Remember what we said earlier about how crooked teeth can put a lot of stress on your jaw and neck? That doesn’t stop when you’re asleep. If your mouth is overcrowded to the point where you’re grinding your teeth, you could be suffering from sleep apnea.
Straight teeth can help you sleep without making your body feel like it’s unable to breathe.
6. Prevention of Jaw Strain
Have you ever chewed a piece of gum for so long that your mouth became sore? If so, you may have accidentally strained a body part that’s known as the temporomandibular joint.
As we mentioned before, crooked teeth can make you prone to grinding your teeth. And sleep difficulties aren’t the only potential consequence involved with that — teeth grinding can also strain your jaw joints and muscles.
The good news is that this condition is often treatable. But the bad news is that it can be very painful. Straighter teeth can lower your risk of experiencing TMJ disorder.
7. Improved Health Outcomes
From oral cancer to sensitive teeth, premature births, and diabetes, poor oral health isn’t just bad for your gums and teeth — it’s bad for your body in general. Because crooked teeth make it so much harder to fight against cavities and tooth decay, having straighter teeth can do a lot to help you ward off these serious diseases. In many ways, straightening your teeth is an investment in your health.
The Health-Related Benefits of Straight Teeth Are Undeniable
Straight teeth don’t just look nice. They have real, practical uses for both yourself and your loved ones. After all, who doesn’t want to sleep better, eat better, and have fewer cavities?
If you’re looking for an orthodontist in Bozeman, MT, give us a call. We’ll figure out the cheapest way to straighten your teeth, and then we’ll make it happen. Contact us to see how we can help you love your smile.