While the psychological
benefits of a beautiful smile are widely known, it’s easy to
overlook the many health benefits.
Fighting Decay
Straight teeth are easier
to clean, primarily because there are fewer areas your toothbrush
can’t reach. The same goes for flossing, which is more successful
at removing food particles if the teeth are properly spaced. When
crooked teeth prevent your toothbrush and floss from doing the job
they were meant to do, plaque builds up. This leads to tooth decay
and gum disease, and that can be bad news for your overall health.
Preventing Periodontal
Disease
As already mentioned,
crooked teeth that are difficult to clean are more prone to cavities.
When the bacteria invades your mouth, your gums also suffer. For many
patients, the downside of all this is gingivitis, or inflammation
that is caused by bacteria trapped in pockets between the gums and
teeth. Gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which affects the
gums, connective tissues and even the jaw bone. In severe cases, it
can lead to the loss of teeth.
Improving the Bite
When teeth are not aligned
properly, your bite is forced to focus on just a few teeth rather
than all of them. The incorrectly distributed pressure can lead to a
wide range of problems, from jaw pain to teeth that break and chip.
Likewise, abnormal spacing allows for teeth to shift incorrectly,
which also leads to an uneven bite and more breakage. That same
spacing makes it possible for food to get trapped, causing more
plaque build-up and calculus (tartar)–and that means more decay and
periodontal pockets.
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