Orthodontic solutions such as Invisalign or braces are used to achieve a straight smile. But contrary to what you might think, straightening your teeth isn’t just about aesthetics.
That’s because if your teeth are crooked, have gaps between them or have alignment issues, they could be the cause of many other problems you are experiencing.
Cromer House offers a range of teeth straightening treatments to our clients across Liverpool.
In today’s post, our dentists will highlight 5 benefits of teeth straightening to show just how transformative orthodontic treatments can be, including for your wider health and wellbeing.
Improved oral hygiene
As it is, brushing twice a day and flossing daily requires a lot of commitment.
However, if you find it difficult to properly reach all of your teeth when you clean them, this can lead to a build-up of plaque and tartar, even if you are doing all the right things!
Once tartar starts to form on your teeth, this also puts you at greater risk of cavities and periodontal disease. So beyond being an inconvenience, not being able to reach the surface of the tooth as well as in between each tooth can lead to further problems.
However, if you speak with your dentist about straightening your teeth, potential cavities or gum disease can potentially be eliminated for good.
That’s because with any restrictions removed when you brush and floss, your teeth cleaning efforts will become far more effective. This is especially the case if you brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss and use mouthwash as directed.
Remember, you should also be booking an appointment with our hygienist regularly. Most people need 1-2 professional cleans per year. However, if you have veneers, you may need to visit a hygienist up to every 3 months.
Easier speech and eating
Teeth play an important role in speech. So, if your teeth are misaligned (malocclusion), it makes sense that your speech can also be impacted.
Some of the things you may notice about your speech if your teeth are not in good alignment include:
- Lisping
- Difficulty pronouncing ‘S’, ‘Z’, ‘T’, ‘D’, ‘N’, ‘L’, ‘SH’ or ‘CH’ sounds
- Whistling sounds (especially with words that contain an ‘S’)
- Slurred or mumbled speech
- General articulation difficulties
For some patients, they can feel self-conscious about their impediment, especially when they talk on the phone, or if they have a public-facing job.
Additionally, misaligned teeth can also create difficulty chewing.
Therefore, fixing any alignment issues can help improve both your speech and your ability to chew.
Confidence and self-esteem
As we’ve just touched upon, misaligned teeth can also cause low self-esteem. Even if you don’t have difficulty experiencing certain words, you may simply dislike the look of your teeth. For instance, if they appear crooked, uneven or if you have noticeable gaps between teeth.
In this digital age, we are all more aware of our appearance due to social media. However, our insecurities can also hold us back in other ways, including in terms of professional opportunities.
Considering our teeth are on show every time we talk, being unhappy with how they look, or experiencing related issues such as speech impediments can have a negative impact.
Thankfully, teeth straightening treatments can put this right once and for all. For some patients, achieving straight teeth is enough to hugely improve their confidence. However, you may also want to consider following up with teeth whitening for a more dramatic smile makeover.
Discover: How a cosmetic dentist can give you the smile you’ve always wanted
Relief from headaches and jaw pain
Do you suffer from headaches, or has your dentist mentioned you might have TMJ? Misaligned teeth could be the root cause of the problem.
Achieving a straight smile can improve the mechanics of your teeth, by relieving areas of uneven force throughout your bite. In turn, this could eliminate headaches or TMJ, especially if further tests reveal an uneven bite is the culprit of your discomfort.
Ultimately, if a misaligned bite is causing headaches or TMJ, other measures probably won’t do enough to fix the problem. That’s because you need to treat the source of the dysfunction and ensure that uneven strain or pressure isn’t being applied throughout your teeth and jaws.
Improved general health
Did you know that if you have gum disease, up to 100 million bacteria can live on a single tooth?
If you have crooked or misaligned teeth which make it difficult to clean your teeth properly, then there can also be implications for your general health. That’s because it can be more difficult to get rid of the bacteria which causes gum disease.
Unfortunately, gum disease can also lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke or diabetes.
The reason for this is because the tissue in your upper and lower jaw acts as a defence system against harmful bacteria. Therefore, when the gum disease sets in, this frontline protection is lost, meaning that bacteria is free to cause harm elsewhere in the body.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) also conducted a study about the link between gum disease and coronary heart disease. It revealed that those with moderate to severe gum disease had a 69% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This in turn also increased their risk of heart and circulatory diseases.
Many people simply do not know that having good oral hygiene can protect their general health, which is why regular contact with your dentist is essential. Specifically, if you have crooked teeth that are contributing towards gum disease, improving the alignment of the teeth may be necessary to protect your health.
In search of straight teeth in Liverpool? Book a consultation with our dentists today
If your teeth appear crooked, or if you have any gaps between your teeth, then our dentists are here to help.
Cromer House is based in the Huyton area of Liverpool and our dentists specialise in a number of orthodontic treatments.
To find out what teeth straightening treatment would work best for you, please book a consultation with our dentists.
Or, if you have any questions please give us a call on 0151 489 2139.
