Having straight teeth is more than just an attractive smile per our Fallsgrove orthodontist in Montgomery County, MD. Teeth alignment has a significant impact on your overall oral and digestive health. Crooked teeth can cause an array of problems ranging from tooth decay to jaw pain. It is extremely important to understand the health benefits of straight teeth.
If you’re considering having your teeth straightened, curious about the health benefits, or wondering how to straighten teeth without braces, we’ll cover the top 5 benefits below.
Is it Rare to Have Straight Teeth?
It is very hard to believe based on what we see on TV and in movies, but it’s rare to have naturally straight teeth.
Malocclusion is the technical term for crooked teeth. One of the most common causes of malocclusion is not having enough room in your jaw, which causes your teeth to crowd. About 84% of people around the world have crowded teeth. This demonstrates how rare it is to have completely straight teeth. Crooked teeth are partially a result of how we’ve evolved, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them.
Crooked teeth can cause all types of health problems. The good news is that there are effective and non-invasive ways to straighten your teeth and you don’t have to get braces to start reaping the health benefits. This all can be accomplished in Montgomery County, MD with the orthodontist at Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry, Capitol Orthodontics.
The Health Benefits of Straight Teeth
If you’re wondering why your teeth should be straight, here are five health benefits of having straight teeth.
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Clean Your Teeth More Easily
One of the biggest benefits of having straight teeth is that it makes it easier to keep your teeth clean. When your teeth are poorly aligned, there are gaps and crevices for food to get stuck and cause decay. It’s more difficult to effectively clean crooked teeth because you often can’t reach all those crevices with your toothbrush or floss. When your teeth are aligned properly, there’s no longer any room for food debris to settle between your teeth and gums. This makes them easier to clean, which helps to prevent plaque build-up and bacteria from accumulating in your mouth and causing cavities.
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Keep Your Teeth Healthier for Longer
Having straight teeth is one of the best things you can do to protect your smile from everyday wear and tear. As we age, our teeth naturally deteriorate from regular use, but having crooked teeth speeds up this process considerably by disproportionately increasing the amount of stress on certain teeth. This can lead to some teeth taking more than their fair share of strain from bites. This may result in more chipping, fractures, and breaks. Straight teeth wear more evenly and stay healthier longer.
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Improve Your Digestion
Another big benefit of having straight teeth is that it improves your digestion. Thoroughly chewing your food is a vital first step to a healthy stomach. Well-chewed food is easier to break down by the bacteria in your stomach, which helps prevent digestive issues and indigestion. When your teeth are properly aligned, the muscles and tissues in your mouth are better able to work together to effectively chew and break down the food you eat. This helps the bacteria in your stomach work better, which ultimately, improves your digestion.
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Prevent Jaw Pain
One of the most common complaints from patients with misaligned teeth is jaw pain. When your teeth are misaligned, the biting and chewing muscles in your mouth are forced to work harder than they should. This can lead to TMJ disorder, headaches, migraines, stiffness while chewing and general jaw pain. Straight teeth allow the muscles and tissues in your mouth to work together to effectively chew your food, which prevents strain on your jaw and jaw pain.
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Speak more clearly
One of the often-overlooked health benefits of having straight teeth is that well-aligned teeth can help you speak more clearly. Having crooked teeth increases the chance that you’ll develop a speech problem such as a lisp. This is because when your teeth are misaligned, the position and shape of your teeth can affect the way your mouth works when you speak. Some people also develop speech problems as a result of trying to hide imperfect teeth while speaking. But when your teeth are aligned properly, your mouth and jaw work in synch to effectively form and articulate words. It also improves your confidence, helping you to speak clearly.
How to Straighten Teeth Without Braces
If you’re still wondering how to straighten teeth without braces, the good news is you don’t have to get braces to start enjoying the health benefits of well-aligned teeth. Invisalign offers clear plastic liners that comfortably and subtly straighten your teeth to give you a beautiful smile and improve your overall health.
Find out how Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry, Capitol Orthodontics in Montgomery County, MD can help you achieve all the health benefits of straight teeth. Book your consultation today.
