Do misaligned teeth make you feel self-conscious? If so, braces provide a great option to straighten teeth and create the balanced and beautiful smile you want. However, dental braces will improve more than just your smile, they’ll also benefit your physical and dental health. From our Sacramento dental office, Dr. Mickiewicz and our team provide a variety of orthodontic services for patients of all ages.
Here are some of our favorite benefits of teeth braces.
Corrects Bad Bites
Upper and lower teeth should fit together like puzzle pieces. Each tooth has a purpose and an ideal place to create a healthy, balanced bite. “Bite” or “occlusion” means how upper and lower teeth fit together when your mouth is closed.
With malocclusion, teeth are out of their ideal place and don’t line up properly, creating imbalanced bite. Gaps between teeth or overlapped teeth don’t correctly fit with opposing teeth. Both gaps and overlapping teeth can lead to a large variety of issues, including:
- Gum Disease
- Discomfort During Eating and Speaking
- Speech Impediments
- Indigestion
- Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
- Headaches
- Bruxism (Grinding Teeth)
- Tooth Loss
- Sleep Apnea
Teeth braces correct malocclusion so that you can avoid a lot of these issues and enjoy life.
Improves Dental Hygiene
Clean, healthy teeth are the foundation for good oral hygiene and health. Crevices and overlapping teeth are difficult to floss and brush. When your teeth are not thoroughly brushed and flossed, plaque and bacteria build up, causing cavities and gum disease. By aligning your teeth, braces will improve your ability to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Also, when you wear braces, you’ll receive specific instructions on caring for them, so your teeth stay in great shape throughout the process.
Lowers the Risk of Cavities
Cavities are caused by the acid created by bacteria that live in your mouth. Over time, the acid begins to break down the enamel on your teeth, creating cavities. If they aren’t treated, cavities can lead to tooth loss, bone decay, and other serious health issues.
Your orthodontist will help you keep your teeth and braces clean at six-week appointments, and you should practice excellent oral care at home. Follow the doctor’s instructions about flossing with your interdental flosser, brushing after every meal, and regularly using mouthwash. As your teeth become straighter and dental hygiene improves, the chances of developing cavities drastically decrease.
Lowers the Risk of Gum Disease
As you’ve learned, a clean tooth is a healthy tooth. Healthy teeth lead to healthy gums. When brushing or flossing is difficult, food debris and plaque stick on, in, and between teeth, as well as at the gum line.
Plaque is a naturally occurring, sticky substance that creates a film on your teeth. Brushing and flossing remove plaque. If you don’t brush and floss, in 48 hours plaque hardens into tartar, which can only be removed at the dentist’s office. Both plaque and tartar increase your risk of gum disease.
By straightening your teeth, your orthodontist gives you a fighting chance against plaque, tartar, cavities, and gum disease.
Lowers the Risk of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ or TMD)
TMJ disorder, which stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction, is a disorder that affects the way your jaw works. The temporomandibular joints work like hinges, allowing you to open and close your mouth and to move your lower jaw side to side.
An imbalanced bite adds extra stress to the jaw bone and the joints. If a joint wears down or is out of alignment, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction or disorder, causing headaches, toothaches, difficulty eating, and jaw locking, as well as other symptoms.
To correct the alignment of your teeth, braces will move them into their ideal position. This results in jaw joints finding their ideal position for both rest and motion. Proper occlusion (bite) will lower your risk of developing TMJ disorder.
Improves Digestion
Probably one of the most surprising benefits of teeth braces is how much your digestion will improve. Often, people with crooked teeth have a lot of trouble eating. Biting down is difficult and chewing is even harder. Chewing is actually the first step of digestion. Food that hasn’t been properly chewed affects the way it is broken down in your digestive system, resulting in issues like acid reflux and ulcers.
Orthodontic braces create a balanced bite, making it easier for you to chew food, which improves digestion.
Improves Your Checkups and Saves You Money
If you practice good oral hygiene, orthodontist and dental visits will be a breeze. Strong and healthy teeth make detection and treatment of dental issues easier.
Any time a dentist can detect and treat cavities, chips, or cracks early, treatment is less invasive and comes with a lesser cost. You’ll retain more healthy, natural enamel, as well. For instance, a small cavity requires only a small, topical filling. A cavity that’s grown large could result in needing a crown, root canal, or extraction and replacement.
Improves Your Appearance, Self Confidence, and Mental Health
Teeth braces aren’t just a cosmetic remedy; they can vastly improve your appearance and self-confidence. When you feel good about the way you look, you’ll feel much better about yourself. A boost in self-confidence can also improve mental health. Feeling good about your appearance should increase your desire to take care of yourself, be active, and be social.
Ready to Get Healthy? Ask About Teeth Braces Today
Many people don’t realize how much of their internal health is connected to their dental health. Misaligned teeth have a negative impact on your whole body. If you’re ready to improve your dental, physical, and mental health, Dr. Mickiewicz is here to help. Our orthodontic team offers a range of options for straightening and adjusting your teeth. Call us in Sacramento today at 916-469-9178 to get started on the perfect treatment plan for you.
