You’ve heard the phrase before: when you look good, you feel good. Whether you’re enhancing your skin or changing your hairstyle, improving your appearance is a step toward improving your relationship with yourself.

This is also true for repairing your teeth.

While many consider straightening teeth a cosmetic issue, it has several health benefits. Keep reading to learn 8 health benefits of straight teeth.

Health Benefits of Straight Teeth

1. Increased Self-Confidence

Remember how you used to avoid smiling because you felt insecure about your teeth?

Smiling is associated with confidence. When you commit to straightening your teeth, your confidence grows because there is nothing to hide anymore.

You’ll get the best of both worlds. Your self-esteem will increase and your health will improve.

2. Promotes Better Digestion

Straight teeth help you to chew your food thoroughly. This helps bacteria in your stomach work better, which prevents issues with digestion and indigestion.

Your internal organs benefit from thoroughly chewed food for two reasons. First, it will cause less damage and strain to your body. Second, thoroughly chewed food allows your body to properly absorb nutrients.

3. Prevents Jaw Strain

A common issue that occurs with crooked teeth is jaw misalignment. This can lead to disorders like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Almost 10 million Americans suffer from TMJ disorders.

Factors that contribute to TMJ include structural jaw problems and consistent grinding or clenching of the teeth. It can cause pains stemming from the mouth to the upper body. It can also cause headaches, ear issues, and other problems.

Straight teeth prevent painful experiences in the jaw. If teeth are not taken care of, it could lead to locking of the jaw, stiffness in the jaw muscles, or a shift in the jaw on one or both sides of the face.

4. Helps You Speak Clearly

Crooked or overcrowded teeth contribute to speech impediments including lisps. This can be a challenge because speaking clearly is important in our everyday interactions with others.

Straightening your teeth can prevent any speech problems while also boosting your confidence.

5. Straight Teeth Last Longer

The acts of biting and chewing foods require pressure on the teeth. Crooked teeth are more vulnerable to these motions, whereas straight teeth are more capable.

When there are malocclusions or misalignment of the teeth, it puts stress on the areas of the mouth that are not equipped to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing. This leads to the early stages of chipping, fractures, and flattening of the biting surface. This also can lead to periodontal issues.

Also, if you have crowded, crooked or protruding teeth, it increases the chances of injury to your teeth in an accident.

6. Promotes Healthier Gums

When your teeth are straight, your gums benefit. Straight teeth are much easier to clean, unlike crooked teeth. Dental hygiene practices like flossing and daily brushing become a challenge if your teeth are crooked.

Crooked teeth are more likely to cause periodontal disease due to inflammation of the gums. This leads to symptoms including redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums.

Even worse, periodontal disease can lead to more health problems. Researchers discovered a connection between periodontal health and stroke. They also found a significant link between periodontal health and diabetes.

7. Promotes Better Sleep

People with crooked teeth may deal with sleep problems and disorders. Common sleep disorders include sleep apnea. People with crooked teeth tend to have narrower jaws. This makes it harder to breathe and forces people to sleep with their mouths open.

Crooked teeth can also contribute to bruxism, which is the grinding of your teeth as you sleep. Moreover, if you already have issues with insomnia or other sleep-related issues, crooked teeth will only make it worse.

8. Protects Overall Health

Oral health is connected to the health of the entire body. Any bacteria that attack gum tissues can travel through blood vessels and the bloodstream.

Straight teeth paired with healthy oral hygiene practices remove bacteria before it can cause long-term damage to the body. Some of these long-term issues and risks include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other health problems.

If you have a healthy mouth, you have a healthy body.

How to Get Straight Teeth

Depending on the health of your teeth, your orthodontist will prescribe a treatment tailored specifically to your needs. Here are two common methods on how to straighten your teeth:

Invisalign

Invisalign offers a way to straighten teeth without metal wires and brackets. It is a clear and removable appliance that is customized to your teeth. The aligners move your teeth in small stages to achieve the optimal position.

The best part about this appliance is that it is easy to remove, so you can brush and floss your teeth with ease. Plus, it is clear and hardly noticeable.

Orthodontists may recommend this treatment to fix gaps in teeth, crooked teeth, and other malocclusions.

Braces

Traditional braces are an effective and efficient treatment for straightening teeth. They use metal wires to shift teeth into alignment little by little.

There are two options for braces: traditional and ceramic. The traditional braces are the visible kind. If you want a more translucent look, ceramic braces are best.

Benefits of Straight Teeth

The benefits of straight teeth are not just about cosmetics. Straight teeth contribute to overall health.

Ahava Orthodontics strives to provide caring and customized orthodontic treatments to people of all ages. The best way to get straight teeth is to consult an orthodontist who can prescribe the best treatment for your unique situation.

If you are in or near Fort Worth and are ready to repair your teeth, contact us to set up an appointment.