The Health Benefits Of Having Straight Teeth

Despite the fact that people generally see straight teeth as a cosmetic matter, the ramifications for oral health are actually quite notable. It’s a little known fact that straight teeth also affects both your dental health and your overall health. Having straight teeth positively contributes to a winning smile which can affect your entire life.

The misalignment of teeth often leads to, a condition called malocclusion. Many adults in America adults suffer from some form of malocclusion, and several types of malocclusion exist. When it comes to crowding and spacing of the teeth, the problem becomes the proximity and the way it looks and functions. It also involves misalignment in the way the teeth comes together when the person bites and chews.

In our conversations with orthodontist Dr. Angelina Loo, we learned that misaligned and crooked teeth are regular dental issues to which dental professionals must attend. They can also lead to severe dental problems if left untreated. Therefore, we should take steps to rectify this type of problem in the beginning to save ourselves from undue stress, time, money, and discomfort as the condition is expected to get worse with time.

In America alone, over four million people wear braces and approximately one-quarter of them are adults because they would like to have perfectly straight teeth. For many people, a big reason for investing in orthodontia is to attain that flawless and captivating smile. Nevertheless, others may believe that Americans are preoccupied with naturally straight teeth, but there are actually good reasons to be. 

The health benefits of having straight teeth are numerous.  Keep reading if you’re wondering why you should invest in a perfect smile. The following are a few health benefits of having perfectly straight teeth.

• Better Digestion – Straight teeth are better for chewing and biting, whether you have naturally straight teeth or you had to have them straightened by orthodontia. It’s important to note that mastication is the start of the food digestion process and food that is chewed more thoroughly, which helps to speed up the digestion process. This is particularly significant because food that has been inadequately chewed makes the stomach and intestines work harder. This results in you receiving less nutrition and experiencing stomach problems. You can have and unhealthy gut, even if you are a healthy eater, when you don’t chew your food properly.

• Easier to clean – When teeth are either too huddled together or too widely separated in the mouth, they can become red and inflamed. If your gums are inflamed and red, these are signs of periodontal disease. It’s easier to clean and maintain teeth that are straighter. Unhealthy bacteria existing in the mouth can propagate and produce many problems, if cleaning is not done correctly on a regular basis.

• Fewer Breaks, Chips or Cracks –  You are more likely to crack or fracture your teeth if you fall or are in an accident, when they are crooked or protruded. Additionally, if you have misaligned teeth, it’s more difficult to have proper dental hygiene which can likewise erode the enamel of your teeth and therefore make it easier to damage them. You are also more likely to bite your cheeks and tongue more frequently, which can lead to painful sores. Crooked teeth can also lead to excess wear and tear on the teeth, gums, and jaw muscles causing jaw strain, and chronic headaches.

• Less Wear and Tear – When your teeth are straighter,  there is less wear and tear on your teeth, gums, and jaw. Chewing and biting alone produce a lot of pressure on the teeth. If the teeth are correctly aligned teeth, they will be able to handle biting and chewing without much issue. On the other hand, when you have bite problems, you end up putting an excessive amount of stress on the teeth. 

• Increased Self Confidence – People with poor oral health and visibly crooked teeth are less likely to smile and speak with confidence. They usually feel embarrassed about their teeth and smile. Conversely, those with naturally straight teeth or those who have corrected their misaligned teeth, usually love smiling and speaking. Smiling also has been known to reduce stress and increase levels of happiness, but misaligned teeth may make most people want to hide their smile. This can even reduce self-esteem.

To sum it up

It should go without saying, that straight teeth protect your overall health because it makes it easier to practice efficient dental hygiene that kills bacteria before it can cause a dental problem. Recent studies have shown that infections that begin in the mouth can potentially endanger the entire body. 

Bacteria that affects the gum tissue doesn’t always stop there. Remember that there are blood vessels in your mouth that connect and run throughout your entire system. Therefore, the infections in your gums can also travel through the blood vessels and enter your blood stream. This is how it can potentially damage your arteries, increasing your chance of heart disease, stroke, and other severe diseases. Consequently, attending to your teeth and gums, can improve your entire body.