While people are generally aware of how orthodontic treatment can improve the appearance of a smile by straightening teeth, many do not know how many oral health issues braces can resolve. Having your teeth properly aligned can make a massive difference in your oral and overall health, and braces can prevent infections, injuries, and chronic discomfort. Here’s a brief guide to some of the ways orthodontics can address underlying health issues.
Dodge Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
Gum disease and tooth decay are two nasty oral infections that will eventually lead to tooth loss if left untreated, and having poorly aligned teeth can make it even more difficult to prevent these ailments. While anyone’s first line of defense against them is a proper oral hygiene routine at home, crowded or gapped teeth can be harder to clean and easier to injure, which makes them more vulnerable to infection. Orthodontic treatments can make it much easier to brush and floss your teeth, thereby preventing these uncomfortable and unsightly oral infections.
Improve Digestion
Chewing is a crucial part of the digestive process, and it’s best done with teeth that distribute the pressure evenly amongst themselves. However, poorly aligned teeth have a much harder time doing this, and the teeth that ride high in the gums can bear an undue amount of chewing pressure, making them more likely to be injured, infected, or lost. Thankfully, orthodontics can rearrange your teeth into a more even chewing surface that can pulverize food matter with minimal risk of injury.
Enhance Comfort
Did you know that poorly aligned teeth can lead to chronic pain such as headaches, backaches, and neck pain? This is because chewing with a misaligned bite can stress the TMJ joints that connect the jaw to the skull, which can lead to exhaustion and injury over time. By straightening out your smile with orthodontic treatment, you can vastly improve your quality of life by eliminating a cause of constant pain.
Don’t let the health issues that come with poorly aligned teeth drag you down. Orthodontic treatment can improve your appearance and confidence while allowing you to live a healthier life.
About the Author
Dr. Stan Drabik earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and completed his orthodontic certificate at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, and the Seventh District New York Dental Association. His offices in Webster and Rochester, NY offer traditional orthodontics as well as Invisalign and orthodontic emergency services. To schedule an orthodontic consultation, contact his office online.