Have you considered aligning your teeth but still need more convincing? Well, you’ve landed on the perfect blog! At KBL Orthodontics, our team strives to share dental education with our patients and involve them as much as possible. Read on to learn the five health benefits of straight teeth and how you can achieve them with the help of our office.
1. Reduce Your Risk of TMJ/TMD Issues
Crooked teeth often cause teeth grinding, jaw pain, and dislocation of the jaw joint. The jaw joint, often referred to as TMJ, connects your jaw and skull and can become misaligned over time. TMD, or temporomandibular disorder, is a disorder that can be helped by treatment, including braces and clear aligners.
Working towards straight teeth helps ensure your jaw stays appropriately aligned and eliminates your chances of experiencing the uncomfortable aforementioned side effects. The earlier you invest in orthodontic treatment, you decrease your chances of needing to undergo more complex procedures and preserve the longevity of your original teeth.
2. Enjoy a Boost in Everyday Self-Esteem
Nothing says confidence like a beaming grin! Those with perfectly aligned teeth are usually more likely to show off their smile to the world as they don’t have to think about others’ opinions. It is typically seen as a sign of trust, positively affecting both your professional and personal relationships.
Seeing how much more assured our patients feel just moments after removing their appliance is what makes our job incredible! Your grin is one of your greatest assets; you deserve to feel great about it. The hard work, time, and effort to improve its appearance is worth the wait.
3. Easy Oral Health Maintenance
Brushing and Flossing
With straight teeth, you can expect maintaining your oral health to be simpler. Brushing and flossing become more manageable when your teeth are in the correct position and discourage small food particles from getting stuck. When Dr. Lewis eliminates hard-to-reach areas with treatment, your teeth stay safe from plaque buildup, bacteria, tooth decay and other complications after a thorough cleaning.
When practicing oral health procedures, such as brushing twice daily and flossing nightly, you keep your original teeth in peak strength to preserve their functionality and long-term condition. If you are unsure of the most effective way to do so, don’t hesitate to ask our team at your next appointment so we can help set you up for success!
Protect Yourself from Chips or Cracks
In addition, pursuing treatment will help distribute proper pressure across your teeth and prevent chips and cracks from everyday actions such as chewing. Those with bite issues put unnecessary pressure on their teeth due to uneven placement, which can damage them. Instead, they will be better equipped to handle meals and provide lifetime protection.
4. Smooth Digestion After Every Meal
Proper Chewing
When your teeth cannot chew your food correctly into small, bite-sized pieces, it may be a sign that your teeth are not perfectly aligned. If your food is swallowed in large chunks, the stomach and intestine must work twice as hard to break it down. This can cause a myriad of issues, such as stomach cramps and aches, heartburn, lower nutritional intake, and an unhealthy gut.
However, straight teeth ensure your food is adequately broken down into digestible pieces, allowing your body to function as it should and avoid more complex complications later on. This way, you take in the proper nutrients from your food and help preserve the performance of your stomach and intestines.
Try Out New Foods!
When chewing becomes easy and doesn’t cause discomfort, we encourage you to try new foods you may have previously avoided due to the trouble a poor bite granted you. Aligned teeth can properly distribute normal chewing pressure across your mouth without causing pain, giving you the confidence to explore a more varied diet. You may even find a new favorite food!
5. Enjoy a Full Night’s Rest
Unaligned teeth, especially if you suffer from bite issues, cause your mouth to stay slightly open throughout the night. When you cannot close your mouth completely, your body naturally breathes through this airway while resting. This can cause a dry mouth and sore throat, thus creating an ideal environment for harmful bacteria growth.
Although, when you have aligned teeth, and your mouth stays closed during rest, your body naturally breathes in and out of your nose. The tiny hairs inside your nose purify the air you breathe by filtering out dust and allergens, preventing infections. With the help of treatment at KBL Orthodontics, you can ensure these results!
Treatment Options Available at KBL Orthodontics
Clear Aligners
This removable appliance provides treatment with minimal interruption to your daily routine. Clear aligners are made of clear plastic trays that fit over your teeth and slowly move into each new set. They are a popular choice among our patients and reliably achieve the results you are after! We offer both Invisalign and 3M Clarity.
Clarity Advanced Clear Braces
Providing a nearly invisible appearance, Clarity Advanced clear braces are a great low-profile choice for older teens and adults. These tooth-colored brackets are made of a translucent ceramic material. Some patients are worried about staining or discoloration over time, but the latest technology has designed them to stay clear throughout treatment.
Modern Metal Braces
Modern metal braces continue to advance and be a long-trusted option among our patients. They can reliably fix the most complicated orthodontic issues and help you promptly reach your smile goals. Made of brackets and wires, this appliance places constant pressure on your teeth to shift them in the right direction until they reach ideal alignment.
Enjoy Straightened Teeth For a Lifetime!
After reading more about the health benefits that follow perfectly aligned teeth, the KBL Orthodontics team encourages you to seek treatment! Our expert team is always ready to take on new patients and help them begin their journey to a new smile. We provide orthodontic services to Dothan and the surrounding communities in Alabama. Schedule your free consultation with us today and learn more about your treatment options!