It’s no secret that braces can help people look and feel better by improving their smiles. Apart from the social benefits, braces have a number of health benefits that many may not be aware of. Braces can be a key component in improving an individual’s dental health, which translates into an individual’s overall health. So if you’re on the fence about getting braces, consider the impact it can have on your health in addition to your confidence and potential enhancement of social interactions.
Improving Oral Hygiene
When a patient has crooked or crowded teeth, it creates more crevices in the mouth. These crevices are essentially “hiding places” for food buildup and bacteria. It’s essential for all individuals to maintain a clean, healthy smile by brushing and flossing daily to prevent food buildup from developing into plaque and tartar. However, those with crooked or crowded teeth will require more effort to maintain the ideal level of oral hygiene. If individuals fail to consistently ensure a clean mouth, they have an increased likelihood of developing gum disease and periodontal disease.
Improving Bite
Many prospective orthodontic patients have bite issues, such as overbites and underbites. Bite issues occur when the jaws do not align properly. For some, this can create issues with eating and chewing food. The inability to thoroughly chew food can lead to gastrointestinal and nutritional issues. Alignment issues may also place excessive stress on an individual’s muscles, joints, and tissues. Over time, this can create oral problems.
Wear Patterns
A misaligned bite can also place unnecessary or inappropriate stress on certain teeth, which are known as wear patterns. Over time, this excessive pressure and dangerous wear pattern can cause teeth to chip and crack, which can lead to issues such as infection. Broken teeth will also often create the need for expensive dental work.
Reducing Injury Risk
Individuals who have protruding front teeth face a higher risk of injury to those teeth. This risk increases when these individuals are involved in activities such as sports. When they become broken or cracked, patients will often desire dental procedures to fix the way they look. In some cases, dental procedures are necessary to prevent more dangerous issues like infection. For those with protruding front teeth, it’s best to take precautionary measures to ensure that they never experience an accident that could compromise their dental health. Braces can help these individuals to create a proper alignment so that the teeth are less vulnerable.
