4 Health Benefits of Straighter Teeth

With more than 4 million people in the United States wearing braces, straight teeth are definitely a priority for many Americans.

And the reason most people have for straightening their teeth is fairly obvious: Your smile simply looks better with straight teeth than with a mouth full of crooked ones. 

However, the benefits of straightening your teeth extend beyond just looks — straighter teeth are linked to several health benefits too. Here’s a look at a few of those benefits, courtesy of Airport Dental Care in Austin, Texas. 

Straighter teeth can:

Keep your teeth clean and healthy

Straighter teeth are easier to keep clean and healthy. If your teeth are crooked, it’s more difficult to clean between them because there are more cracks and crevices. 

Straighter teeth also last longer. Misaligned teeth often put more pressure on certain teeth, result in premature wearing, and lead to chipping and other problems.

Help you avoid gum disease

As noted above, crooked teeth are harder to keep clean, which means bacteria can sneak in and linger in those irregular spaces. Bacteria can cause infection, which leads to gum disease.

Signs of periodontitis (gum disease) include redness, tenderness, and bleeding. If left unchecked, the disease can spread, causing your gums to recede and even leading to tooth loss. Straight teeth help prevent this.

Reduce your risk of jaw pain

If your teeth aren’t aligned correctly, the misalignment puts stress on the joints that connect your jaw to your skull near your ears. This kind of strain on these joints can eventually cause pain, headaches, dizziness, ringing in your ears, and more. 

If you’re struggling with jaw pain or headaches, straightening your teeth could give you relief.

Protect your overall health

If bacteria gain a foothold in your mouth, they can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. As they travel, bacteria can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious problems.

Straightening your teeth can help prevent these issues by keeping the bacteria from entering your body in the first place.

If your teeth need to be straightened, or if you have more questions about the process of teeth straightening, set up a consultation with Dr. Brian LaBombard and our expert team. 

Just call the Airport Dental Care office or book your appointment online, and we can put together a customized treatment plan for you. We can’t wait to see your straight teeth!