Orthodontic treatments offer a wide range of benefits besides improving your smile and straightening your teeth.
Orthodontic braces are not just for teeth alignment – they can boost your periodontal health, enhance your immune system, correct misaligned upper and lower jaws, and more. This treatment is very important, and the effort and time you invest in it will provide you with a lifetime of improved oral health as well as a stunning smile. Some of the benefits include preventing disease and pains in the future.
Why You Should See an Orthodontist
Our oral health is one of the most vital parts of our overall health and well-being. As such, we need to pay proper, close attention to it. There is a wide range of aspects regarding oral health, which is why it is very important that you visit a dental clinic to see orthodontic specialists. Orthodontic treatment is very important to you and your overall health.
Most times, when you mention a dentist or dental clinic, the mind goes to two major options – straightening teeth and enhancing bite. Nevertheless, while these are two vital benefits of oral health, it is crucial to note that orthodontists offer a wide range of services. An orthodontic specialist can help you boost your self-esteem amongst other advantages. When it comes to your oral health, you should avoid self-medication and seek the help of professionals only.
Health Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
Properly Clean Your Teeth
Your ability to clean your teeth very well is very important to your oral health. Now, you cannot clean your teeth properly if they are crooked or not aligned properly. Misaligned teeth can create gaps that are not cleaned properly. If you are not able to clean your teeth properly, your mouth will become a breeding place for bacteria.
When bacteria builds up in your mouth, it can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and other harmful issues. This treatment can align your teeth appropriately, making it easy for you to brush them properly and prevent the buildup of bacteria in your mouth.
Enhanced Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene affects the way you see yourself as well as the way you relate with others. This is why many people with mouth odor are usually avoided during conversations. In addition to making you look attractive, straighter teeth will also benefit your oral health. If your teeth are not well-aligned, you will experience the lodging of food particles on your teeth, which is something that can result in plagues or cavities.
Misaligned teeth usually create a bacteria-breeding environment that results in a compromise in oral hygiene and health. This might also result in periodontal disease. To prevent all these from happening and save yourself the stress and expenses of treating oral disease, you should visit an orthodontist. If your teeth are aligned properly, you will not experience these issues, as food particles will have no place to lodge.
Prevent Jaw Issues
Another great benefit of orthodontic treatment is that it helps to prevent jaw issues. However, you should not neglect your bite during your braces treatment. You should make sure your bite fits tougher in harmony, as it is very important. The best orthodontists do not only help to straighten your teeth, but align your jaws and bite as well.
If your teeth are not aligned properly, it can cause stress on the jaws. Stress on the jaws over time can result in the dysfunction of TMJ (temporomandibular joint). “Malocclusion” is another term used to describe teeth misalignment. Fixing your misaligned teeth will enhance your bite pattern and prevent your teeth from wearing down unevenly. Furthermore, if your jaw is not aligned properly, it may eventually weaken your teeth and make them more vulnerable to breaking off and chipping, which can result in infections and tooth extraction.
Healthier Gums and Teeth
With orthodontic treatment, you will be able to enjoy healthier gums and teeth. When your teeth are straight, you will not have hard-to-reach areas when flossing or brushing your teeth. This will considerably minimize your chances of developing cavities or gum disease over time. Research now has it that inflammation of the gums – gum disease and gingivitis – can have a negative effect on other processes and parts of the body, with your heart health being one of the most vulnerable things.
Improved Digestion
Interestingly, orthodontic treatment can enhance digestion significantly. If your teeth are aligned properly, you will be able to chew and grind your food very well. When you chew your food properly, it allows for easy and quick digestion. Crooked teeth do not allow for proper chewing, which means it will take a long time for your body to break down and digest the food.
If you chew the food properly, your body will also be able to absorb the nutrients very well compared to when less chewing is done. This treatment can help you with straighter teeth that you can use to chew properly and enhance digestion after eating.
Orthodontic Treatment Options
There are different orthodontic treatment options. However, the two most popular options are:
- Invisalign: This solution uses modern technology to create removable, clear, almost invisible plastic aligners for your teeth. In addition to providing you with a beautiful smile, this type of orthodontic treatment offers a wide range of benefits. It is ideal for parents and teenagers. If you have underbite, overbite, crossbite, jaw issues, gap teeth, crowded mouth, misaligned teeth, and other teeth condition, you will greatly benefit from Invisalign treatment. You will wear it for 20 to 22 hours a day and change it every two weeks.
- Metal Braces: This treatment uses metal brackets, ligatures, and wires to straighten the teeth. The treatment time of this method is longer than that of the Invisalign treatment. The treatment duration of metal braces ranges from one to three years.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many health benefits associated with orthodontic treatment. This treatment has a lot to offer in addition to providing you with a more beautiful smile. You should consult a dentist to know which orthodontic treatment is best suitable for your needs.