Confidence comes in all shapes, sizes,…and from a variety of places. Your smile might not immediately come to mind but among confidence-boosters a healthy smile is an asset and among the reasons your dentist could recommend orthodontic treatment.
Consider the alternative emotions or behaviors that accompany having misaligned or crooked teeth.
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of eye contact
- Poor social skills
These conditions and more are good motivation for seeking to understand why orthodontic treatment is necessary and essential to your oral health and lifestyle.
What are the advantages of orthodontic treatment?
1-Straightening your misaligned teeth
There’s an “official” or technical word for tooth misalignment: “malocclusion.” You might hear this from your dentist but basically it means that your teeth are crooked or overcrowded.
This is a big deal because malocclusion (misaligned teeth) not only affects the appearance of your smile it also can cause a number of oral health issues.
Braces and aligners are often recommended to gradually and gently move your teeth into proper, healthy, and attractive alignment.
2-Improving your overall oral health
Teeth misalignment isn’t only an aesthetic issue. Crooked and misaligned teeth can create an environment for decay and disease to thrive.
For example, misalignment could cause the space between your teeth to tighten and allow food particles to become stuck. This gives bacteria an opportunity to multiply, forming plaque build-up.
The potential results:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Cavities
Orthodontic treatment moves your teeth into a proper alignment and eliminates the tight crevices where bacteria are more likely to thrive.
3-Better chewing and digestion
The connection between chewing your food and how well you digest it can be affected by your teeth alignment. Misaligned teeth could make it more difficult to bite and chew.
Some of your teeth can experience more bite-force pressure. Others might be underutilized.
Treatment with orthodontics brings your teeth into a proper alignment and supports even distribution among your teeth as you chew.
- Digestion improves
- Nutritional benefits of your food is enhanced
4-Communicate more clearly
An orthodontic issue such as an overbite or underbite can negatively impact your speech. Because of how your tongue is positioned relative to your teeth you might have a tendency to slur or lisp when talking.
Orthodontics brings your teeth and jaw into a proper alignment that can clarify how you speak and articulate your words.
5-Treat and help prevent TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder
Misaligned teeth can cause an imbalance in the joint that guides your jaw movement. TMJ is a common condition that occurs when your jaw is out of alignment.
You might experience:
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
Orthodontic treatment can provide relief from these symptoms by helping align your teeth and jaw structure. The strain on your jaw is reduced and thus minimizing the development of further TMJ issues.
6-A self-confidence boost
When you feel confident in the appearance of your teeth you are more likely to smile. And when your smile confidence increases you naturally feel a surge of self-confidence.
Orthodontic treatment provides essential oral health benefits while also providing a positive improvement that extends to your personal and professional life.
When your dentist recommends orthodontic treatment keep in mind that they have your oral health in mind. But they’re also recommending a solution for your overall physical and emotional wellness and wellbeing.
You have options if you’re experiencing loss of confidence in your smile or are concerned about your teeth alignment. Take advantage of an easy and convenient solution for a dental consultation.
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