Is Orthodontics Really Only About Looking Good? | 9 ANSWERS

Everyone knows that orthodontics, commonly known as braces, help people get straight teeth. They do an excellent job of creating beautiful teeth that people can be proud to show off. Having straight teeth will actually serve more than just giving you good aesthetics, though, it will also help you to have overall better health. While everyone would like to have straight teeth, the benefits other than having a nice smile outweigh great looking teeth.

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Those Other Benefits Include:

Increasing Your Self-Confidence

When your teeth are not aligned well and you are around people with dazzling teeth, it can make you feel less confident about smiling. Most likely, you want to hide your teeth. Going to an orthodontist to give you teeth that are aligned will increase your self-confidence and you will be glad to smile. Your embarrassment will be gone.

Better Ability to Chew Your Food

When your teeth do not meet each other as they should, it takes longer to chew your food. Or, you may swallow your food without much chewing. This may lead to digestion problems for some people because your teeth help prepare your food for digestion by breaking it into smaller pieces that can be more easily digested. It can also lead to a lower level of nutrient absorption.

Talk Better

Your speech will improve when your teeth are straight. You may tend to slightly slur some words or fail to enunciate clearly because of your teeth. When your teeth are aligned, you will be able to speak better and clearer.

Easier to Keep Clean

A lack of proper alignment of your teeth is going to make brushing harder to eliminate the plaque. The odd angles of your teeth will cause you to miss some spots because they are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss. Before long, you will likely notice some places where plaque accumulates on certain teeth near the gum line.

Fewer Cavities

Removing plaque is easier when your teeth are aligned. Plaque is the daily accumulation of bacteria on your teeth. When you eat carbs or sugary products, the bacteria produce acid on your teeth. The acid slowly erodes your tooth enamel and creates teeth that are sensitive and then cavities will soon follow.

After eating sweets, or consuming drinks with lots of sugar in them, you can help reduce the possibility of cavities by rinsing your mouth out with water. This will help keep down the amount of plaque and acid on your teeth.

There’s more…

Help Prevent Periodontal Disease

The biggest cause of gum disease is a lack of good oral care. Having well-aligned teeth will enable you to take care of your teeth better and will help prevent gum disease. The first symptoms of gum disease are gums that bleed when you brush or floss. Your gums will also appear red and inflamed. You may only have these two symptoms for some time, but if your oral care does not improve, you will also notice that your gums start receding, pockets forming on your gums, and spaces will develop between your teeth. They will also bleed more and be more inflamed. This is periodontitis.

Once you develop periodontal disease, you will need the help of a dentist to remove it. The bacteria that cause the disease is in your gums and you cannot eliminate it on your own. Without treatment, it will continue to destroy your gums and your jawbone and it will lead to eventual tooth loss.

Prevent Jaw Pain

A lack of proper teeth alignment can cause bite issues. This can eventually lead to placing stress on one or both of the jaw joints – the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Improper alignment can cause jaw pain and possibly pain in your neck, as well as headaches. Along with it, your teeth may weaken and it may increase the likelihood that your teeth will break or chip.

Prevent Injuries

If you or a child has front teeth that are protruding (buck teeth), they are more likely to be damaged. They are more susceptible to injury or tooth loss if he or she is active in sports. Braces can straighten the teeth so that they are properly aligned with the other teeth.

Lower Dental Costs

Another important benefit of getting orthodontics is that your dental bills are going to be lower. Since misaligned teeth are harder to keep clean, it increases the possibility of cavities and gum disease. This leads to more dental problems. Investing in regular dental appointments and braces can help you keep your teeth longer and your smile looking great.

Best Time for Orthodontics

Although people of any age can benefit from orthodontics, the best time is while the jaw and teeth are still growing. This enables the teeth to be moved faster and easier. Sometimes, in order for the teeth to be moved into their proper position, some teeth may need to be extracted to create the correct amount of room. The best ages are between 10 and 14 years old, but many adults are also getting them – even celebrities.

When to See an Orthodontist

If you are on the fence about whether or not to seek orthodontics treatment for a family member or for yourself, several factors or issues may help you decide. They include:

Difficulty chewing
Breathing through the mouth
Facial imbalance (lack of symmetry)
Bite issues
Crowded or misaligned teeth
Spaces between teeth
Protruding teeth
Speech problems
Jaw pain
You want a better smile.

You have already noticed that people with beautiful smiles seem to have more self-confidence. It could even change you or your child’s life opportunities and help you to get promoted or a better job. Others quickly recognize a great smile and it helps you to make a very good first impression.

One of the best ways to determine how braces can give you or your child better aesthetics and functionality is to contact Dr. Adam Schulhof. In addition to providing traditional braces, he is a leader in giving people Lingual Braces. These braces are practically invisible and can straighten the teeth of people of any age and others will not even know you are wearing them.