What are the benefits of having straight teeth?
Everyone agrees—having straight teeth does wonders for your confidence. But not everyone knows that a more beautiful smile can also mean big benefits for your overall well-being. Like gears on a wheel, teeth are made to fit together just right. If your teeth and bite aren’t aligned, they can’t do their job, which can cause a variety of health issues.
Here are five perks to perfecting your pearly whites that go way beyond aesthetics.
When your teeth are crooked or crowded, food and bacteria have more places to hide. As a result, plaque can build up and lead to gum inflammation and disease. If left untreated, gum disease can eventually cause your gums to recede. This can lead to bone loss and even tooth loss. Sedation dentistry can help you get the dental care you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy, even if you have anxiety or dental fear.
Plaque buildup also releases acid, creating a perfect breeding ground for cavities (not to mention costly dental visits). So, another health benefit of straight teeth? They’re much easier to brush, floss and clean.
Problems that start in your mouth can spread to the rest of your body. When bacteria get trapped in your gum pockets, it can trigger inflammation and enter your blood stream, contributing to many chronic diseases—including heart disease, diabetes, dementia and even some cancers.
Orthodontics and mental health go hand-in-hand. We've all pulled off the no-teeth smile in a photo or two, but just because the cameras are coming out doesn't mean you have to hide your smile away. With straighter teeth, you'll quickly notice—in as little as 6 months, in some cases—how you're shaping a more confident future for yourself while your teeth are getting back into ship-shape.
When your bite is off, chewing can cause excessive stress on areas that are not designed to cope with that pressure—leading to premature wear and tear. Over time, teeth can flatten, chip and fracture. Having straight teeth can balance bite forces, protect your teeth and minimize costly dental work.
Speaking of bite forces, a bad bite can stress your temporomandibular joints (better known as TMJ) and chewing muscles, which can cause joint pain, head and neck aches and even earaches.
Aspen Dental offers Motto clear aligners to give you everything you need to benefit from straighter teeth, including dentist-backed clear aligners and a love-your-smile guarantee with MottoAssured.* If you're interested in a healthier lifestyle fast and inexpensively, schedule an appointment with one of our professionals or take our Smile Assessment to see if Motto clear aligners are right for you.
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* Must be in compliance with your doctor-directed treatment plan. Refinements must be requested within 30 days of completing your last aligner step and prior to receiving your retainer.
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