5718 Balcones Dr., Austin, TX 78731
512-458-4103
Understandably, many people associate orthodontic work with cosmetic treatment because of its significant effect on your smile. Though cosmetic benefits are a valid reason to get metal, clear, or removable braces, orthodontic work has many benefits beyond a stunning smile! Straight teeth can improve your oral health and your overall physical and mental well-being. At Austin Orthodontic Arts, we don’t want anyone in Austin, Texas and surrounding areas to not get care with us because they don’t realize the advantages beyond aesthetics! Here are our top 5 health benefits of straight teeth!
1.) Prevents Digestive Issues
Did you know that the alignment of your teeth and jaw can negatively impact your digestive health and process? Let’s discuss how.
The first stop for food entering your digestive system is the mouth! Misaligned teeth and jaw can make it laborious for you to break down food appropriately, which means you are likely not to chew enough and attempt to swallow bits of much too-large food. Inadequate chewing leads to insufficient saliva production to lubricate the throat or hold the food together, making it even more challenging to ingest. Lack of saliva and large chunks of food increases your risk of choking! If the food does make it down your throat, it is still in danger of getting stuck in the intestine, promoting indigestion, bloating, constipation, and intestinal gas. Bad breath and heartburn are additional side effects of a struggling digestive system.
The smaller the food, the easier it is for your body to absorb nutrients from that food. If eating causes you pain, discomfort, or frustration, you might eat less, leading to malnutrition, energy deficiency, and other health issues if your eating becomes sparse enough.
Straight teeth make eating a more enjoyable and beneficial experience!
2.) Improves Mental Health
When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, it can also lead to negative judgment from others. A study found that a conventionally attractive smile was associated with confidence, success, good health, cleanliness, and happiness, allowing those with straight teeth to have an easier time making friends, getting dates, and receiving job offers after face-to-face interviews. If your smile negatively affects your self-esteem and confidence, you could contribute to the less-than-ideal presentation of yourself without even realizing it!
A traditionally appealing smile can enhance your social and professional lives by expanding the opportunities available to you.
3.) Treats Breathing And Communication Difficulties
Narrow upper jaws create narrow air passageways, making it hard to get sufficient air to the lungs. An inability to breathe correctly can force you to breathe through your mouth and cause sleep apnea and other breathing challenges. Sleep disorders can leave you tired and irritable the next day, affecting your quality of life and work performance, and mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth and tooth decay.
Misaligned or underdeveloped lower jaws can also misplace the tongue and produce speech impediments like a lisp, potentially creating confidence issues and frustrating communication problems.
Orthodontic care can eliminate or reduce the severity of breathing or communication issues, helping you to communicate and breathe effectively and comfortably.
4.) Better Oral Health
Malocclusion might make oral hygiene a daily challenge. Overcrowding creates hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean, allowing bacteria and food to build up. Over time, these hidden threats could promote bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, infections, and other issues that can cause permanent damage to your teeth and gums!
Crowded teeth and teeth facing the wrong way also create irregular, constant friction that strips down the enamel, your built-in protection against tooth decay. Without sufficient enamel, your teeth are more vulnerable. Unfortunately, damage to your enamel is permanent. Still, you can do things to strengthen your remaining enamel or reverse early signs of tooth decay (such as using fluoride-containing dental products).
Other health concerns that can be traced back to poor oral health:
- Some cardiovascular diseases (this is still being researched)
- Endocarditis
- Pregnancy and birth complications
- Pneumonia
- Cellulitis
- And more!
When oral hygiene is easier to perform, you’re more likely to be happier, healthier, and more fond of your smile.
5.) Reduces Or Eliminate Jaw, Neck, & Head Pain
The pain that mispositioned teeth can manifest in the jaw, neck, and head. Poor teeth alignment encourages bruxism (teeth grinding), and improper jaw function can develop abnormal wear and tear on the jaw joint. If left untreated, this stress can cause TMD, an incurable jaw joint disorder.
Gum disease, tooth decay, TMJ, and digestive issues all have the potential to cause varying degrees of discomfort and pain. Fortunately, however, you can avoid most of these conditions and minimize their symptoms with appropriate dental and orthodontic care.
Visit Austin Orthodontic Arts To Discover What Braces Can Do For You!
Because everyone’s orthodontic and health concerns are different, the advantages of straight teeth vary from person to person. To receive a personalized benefit summary, schedule a free consultation with Austin Orthodontic Arts!