Straightening teeth has health benefits beyond just cosmetics.

Often when people think of teeth straightening interventions, the first thought that may come to mind is for only cosmetic dentistry purposes. While it is certainly true that many people consider having straight teeth as an asset to help them feel more confident and beautiful, there are many health benefits of having your teeth straightened.

The alignment of your teeth affects the shape of your face and speech.

The absence, presence, or alignment of your teeth significantly contributes to the way your face is shape. For example, if you have an overbite, the upper front portion of your teeth protrudes over the lower portion of your front tooth. On the other hand, an underbite makes the jawline much more pronounce. If the gaps are overwide, you could have difficulties eating. This can make your cheeks appear sunken and undefined jaw. Crooked teeth not only affect the shape of your face but also speech. The alignment of teeth helps us verbalize and form words. Misaligned teeth can cause speech impediment or make it hard to pronounce certain words. The good news is that an overbite and underbite can be corrected.

Reduce premature wear and tear.

When your jaw is closed, your teeth should fit together neatly and comfortably without causing you discomfort. Teeth that are aligned properly work much more efficiently at chewing and reduces the premature wear and tear. When the teeth are misaligned, the upper and lower teeth are constantly rubbing and making contact at odd angles. This can cause uneven wear of some parts of your teeth. If left untreated, the premature wear and tear of the tooth can cause enamel erosion that can lead to sensitivity. When the hard enamel surface is severely worn, the chances of tooth decay is very likely.

Makes cleaning easy.

When teeth are aligned, brushing and flossing can remove plaque and food debris more efficiently. When the teeth are skew or the bite is bad, cleaning and accessing different parts of the mouth with toothbrush or floss can be difficult. Plaque buildup can lead to gingivitis and eventually periodontal disease of the gum.

Reduce mouth breathing.

Not everyone who have bite issues will become mouth breathers, but some do. Breathing through your mouth is not the issue, but if you breathe through your mouth all the time this can increase your chances of tooth decay. The reason is that the mouth becomes dry, and the saliva that is produce inside the mouth no longer coats and protects the teeth. Saliva naturally help fight off bacteria. Breathing through the mouth can making your snoring worse, and that can cause poor sleeping.

If you have questions how you can benefit from straight teeth, and the options available for you, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to schedule your next appointment to find out what your options.