A person’s smile speaks volumes about their health, hygiene and confidence. Straight white teeth are considered the ideal for an attractive, natural look, but did you know that there are many surprising health benefits of straight teeth too?
Most treatments used to straighten the teeth for both adults and children involve using braces. This is where an orthodontist applies a series of wires and brackets to the front of the patient’s teeth to gradually align them over a period of months or years. Orthodontic treatment is considered one of the most important health investments you will ever make: not only does it give you a healthy mouth and a brilliant smile, it can make you more confident and successful in life.
Now, let’s talk about the health benefits of straight teeth.
Aesthetics
We’ll begin with aesthetics, because who doesn’t want a pretty face? There’s nothing like perfectly aligned teeth; they allow us to flash our pearly whites at one another when we’re speaking or smiling.
As a result, this leads to increased self-confidence because straight teeth are so much less prominent than crooked ones and simply don’t have the same sort of visual impact on others’ first impressions of you. Just be sure to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep them looking beautiful!
Oral health
On a more serious note, straighter teeth lead to better oral health. When our teeth are crooked, they can crowd each other out of position and trap food particles between them, leading to an increased chance of developing cavities and gum disease.
Plus, it’ll be easier to brush and floss your teeth because the tooth bristles and thread have more room to clean those hard-to-reach crevices. Even during your braces or Invisalign treatment, it’s possible to maintain them, resulting in a healthier mouth for longer.
Eating habits
In turn, healthy eating habits go hand-in-hand with properly aligned teeth. Because the latter allows us to chew food more easily, we can also enjoy a wider variety of healthful foods which are good for us, resulting in better digestion. Furthermore, by preventing food particles from getting stuck in our teeth, straighter teeth make it easier for us to maintain good oral health.
Sleep apnea
One health benefit of straight teeth is that it can reduce the likelihood of sleep apnea. This health issue affects people who struggle to breathe while they are sleeping, causing them to wake up many times during the night. It’s not often discussed but using CPAP (a method of breathing assistance) for this health problem is uncomfortable and can be extremely frustrating due to noise, dryness or leaks. Straightening your teeth with clear aligners or braces can reduce the obstruction to your airway, and relieve sleep apnea symptoms.
Clearer speech
As I’m sure most orthodontic patients would agree, the difference a straight smile makes to their speech is massive. Our teeth help in producing certain speech patterns and if they are crooked, gapped or protruding, this can lead to a speech impediment or lisp. Orthodontics help to rectify this and you’ll find that in a matter of 6 months your speech has begun to improve.
Find your straight smile at Ten Dental
We provide professional Orthodontic treatments at our London dental clinics in Balham, Clapham and Wandsworth. From traditional Metal braces and Lingual braces to Invisalign and 6 Month Smiles, we’ve got the solution that’s right for you!
Book your FREE consultation today to start your teeth straightening journey.