Straight teeth are more than just beautiful; they are a gateway to increased physical health, happiness, and improved psychological health. Keep reading as we take a bite into the benefits of straighter teeth, and we toss in a few suggestions for getting the perfect smile.
1. Improved Oral Health
Straighter teeth offer many benefits, one of which is improved oral health. When your teeth are straight, it is easier to keep them clean and clean teeth lead to improved oral health, gum health, and stronger teeth. A clean mouth is free of gingivitis, so your breath is pleasant rather than acrid with foul smells. Clean teeth also help to protect bone density in your mouth and keep jaw strength at its peak. When you can easily clean your teeth, your mouth feels better, food tastes better, and even the rest of your body feels better.
2. Stronger Teeth
Because straighter teeth are easy to keep clean, oral health improves, including your teeth' enamel and soft portions. Clean teeth have few cavities, and root and gum health also improve. What this means is that your teeth remain stronger far into your life. With strong, healthy teeth, you can enjoy more food selections, avoid or prolong the need for transplants, dentures, and partials, and continue to enjoy that beautiful smile.
3. Improved Confidence and Self Esteem
A healthy smile with straight teeth is something of beauty. People who have crooked teeth tend to hide their smile and worry about how people judge them. They may have speech problems, which further draws attention to their crooked teeth. Smiling has a direct effect on our psychological health. When we smile, it relieves stress. When we laugh, it reduces anxiety. Stress and anxiety are two negatives that cause physical and emotional harm. People with straighter teeth tend to smile more often, laugh more often, and are more likely to be free of stress and anxiety. They allow their beautiful smile to lead the way and without having to deal with stress and anxiety as often, are more able to excel in social settings, in their careers, and in life.
4. Improved Digestion
Straighter teeth help to improve the biting process, which makes chewing food easier. It is essential that what we eat be chewed into small bits to gain the most nutrition from what we consume. Smaller pieces of food are easier for our digestive system to break down into simpler forms. When we do not chew our food, either because we eat too fast or because our teeth are not functioning correctly, food sits in the stomach, and medical issues like acid reflux occur. Severe acid reflux can damage the enamel on our teeth, which further quickens tooth decay and tooth loss.
5. Improved Speech
Straight teeth help our tongue to find the perfect placement as we speak. The shape of our mouth and the tongue's position all come together so that we can form sounds and words correctly. When you have straight teeth, the jaws align better, and your mouth has all the room it needs to hold the tongue. When our teeth are crooked, they can interfere with how the tongue works to form sound causing our words to sound different. Clear speech is a confidence builder and helps to become more engaging in our careers, social life, and home lives.
A Few Tips on how to Get Straighter Teeth
Not all of us are born with a perfect smile, but that need not be an issue. For most of us, braces are a part of growing up, and a visit to the orthodontist helps start that process. Braces are not the only answer to building a perfect smile. Today, adults and children both have the options of invisible braces and clear aligners for straightening teeth. The invisible braces are trendy and offer a few health benefits over traditional wired braces. If you've had braces before, then you remember having thread floss through the wires to floss your teeth. With invisible braces, you can easily remove your clear aligners which snap on and off of your teeth for easy eating, cleaning, brushing and flossing. In addition, you’re not dealing with painful brackets and wires that often blister your mouth from your inner cheeks, gums and tongue. One of the best features is that they are clear, which means that they are harder to notice when you smile, even when you have them on all day.
Traditional braces or invisible braces are two options for straightening teeth. More and more people are opting for invisible braces for their convenience and inconspicuousness, and they are easier for people of all ages to handle. Clear aligners make the process of cleaning your mouth easier, and that makes maintaining excellent oral health an easy habit to follow. With clear aligners, you too can be on your way to a straighter smile and healthier oral hygiene!
