If you are one of the many people who suffer from a lack of confidence or embarrassment over teeth that aren’t straight, that may well be enough to persuade you to want to have them fixed. What you may not know is how big of an effect ill-aligned teeth can have on your overall health.
Today we are going to take a look at how straight teeth can affect many different aspects of your health and your life.
Straight Teeth and General Health
Veterinarians check your puppy or kitten’s mouth first during an exam because bad teeth would be an indication of general health problems. The same is true of human beings. When our teeth are in bad shape, we are often facing other health issues as well.
This may in part be due to the idea that how well we care for ourselves is well represented by our effort at maintaining oral hygiene. Having sugary snacks, not brushing and flossing regularly, and not getting the kids to those back-to-school dental checkups can all lead to poor oral hygiene.
Check out these direct effects that having straight teeth have on different aspects of your well being.
Correct Bite and Jaw Alignment
One of the biggest things that may be a problem for people who don’t have dental issues corrected is their bite or jaw alignment. It may not sound like a big deal, especially if you don’t have noticeably crooked teeth, but it can become a major issue.
A misaligned bite or jaw, also known as TMJ, can have effects ranging from speech impediments, intense pain, breathing problems, and snoring, to other ear and sinus issues. It is important to address any alignment issues as early as possible to avoid problems.
Better Oral Hygiene
One of the unfortunate side effects of having misaligned, crooked or overlapping teeth is that caring for them is significantly more difficult. This makes these teeth more susceptible to weakness and cavities.
When one tooth overlaps another or sits in a more difficult position, it is harder to brush and floss. In some cases, it may even be painful. This can often cause oral hygiene to suffer, which can lead to more dental issues down the line including gum disease, cavities and the need for major dental services.
Straight Teeth & Improved Confidence
How our teeth look plays a major role in how we feel about ourselves. Yellowing teeth or a broken tooth can really take away from an appearance and it is hard to not be concerned that people will notice. Sometimes, these types of issues will stop someone from smiling which can leave the impression that they are sullen, unhappy, or rude.
Whether it is a need for braces, teeth whitening, dentures, or something else, having these issues addressed and having straight teeth makes you look and feel better immediately. Getting dental work taken care of should always be a top priority because of how intensely it affects the way most people feel about themselves.
Visit your Local Dentist in Oxnard, CA
If you have dental concerns or want to improve your smile, schedule an appointment with Bella Dental now. Whatever your dental concern, we are here to help.