Orthodontics: Teeth Straightening for Oral Health

Almost everyone is aware of the massive benefit that orthodontics and teeth straightening can have on one’s appearance; however, many do not fully understand just how beneficial orthodontics is for oral health.

Along with simply flashing a better smile, there are health reasons to consider teeth straightening.

Orthodontics health benefits

In many instances, both adults and children receive braces or other forms of orthodontics in order to straighten their teeth, without realizing the associated health benefits.

The following are four big advantages orthodontics has on oral health:

Decreases chance of an oral infection

First and most importantly, straighter teeth help reduce the chance of an oral infection, which can lead to complicated dental procedures — including dental extraction — if medical treatment does not work.

When teeth are crooked, they are more likely to contain a buildup of food particles, especially in areas that are hard to reach while brushing. As food and other particles accumulate, there is a higher likelihood of bacteria attacking the mouth, causing an infection.

With orthodontics, however, the chance of a serious oral infection that requires medical treatment and/or dental operations is significantly reduced.

Makes teeth easier to clean

With orthodontics work, the teeth are also easier to clean, which reduces the chance of developing a cavity, suffering from stained teeth, etc.

When the teeth are crooked, there will be areas that simply cannot be fully and thoroughly attended to while brushing, despite how hard you may try. In some cases, the area can even be difficult to target while flossing or using mouthwash.

Subsequently, there is a high likelihood of unwanted plaque building up on the tooth and eating away at your tooth enamel, which leads to tooth decay. With orthodontics teeth straightening, avoiding cavities is much easier.

Decreases chance of tooth injury

While there are certainly accidents where a tooth injury may not be able to be avoided, seeking orthodontics for straighter teeth reduces the chance of tooth injury. When there is a misalignment of the teeth, they are more prone to damage when suffering a blow to the mouth.

As such, orthodontics is often important for individuals who play a highly physical, contact sport or work a dangerous job.

Improves mental health and self-confidence

Last but certainly not least, teeth straightening leads to improved mental health and a higher level of self-confidence, which tends to be the main reason people seek orthodontics work.

Therefore, anyone who is insecure about their smile and feels like it holds them back from being more expressive in social situations should consider orthodontics teeth straightening as a way to gain more confidence and feel more comfortable.

Are you considering orthodontics in the Gilroy area? Get more orthodontics information at .