Health Advantages of Having Straighter Teeth

If you’ve been thinking about straightening your smile, your main reasons might be related to the way your teeth look. Yes, misaligned or crooked teeth can be unattractive. But the health benefits of straight teeth are another great reason to consider getting clear aligners. Both your smile and your body will benefit. If you needed an excuse to get clear aligners, you’re in luck.

Reduced Risk of Cavities and Gum Disease

When teeth are tightly crowded against one another, or tilted out of alignment, they statistically harbor more plaque bacteria around them. Even if you brush and floss well every day, your crooked teeth are significantly at risk for both tooth decay and gum disease.

Straight teeth cause fewer cavities than crooked ones do because they’re easier to clean. You don’t have to worry about trying to work an extra oral hygiene device around a hard-to-reach area in most cases, so there’s less of a risk that unexpected dental work will pop up.

By aligning your teeth, you essentially make it easier to clean your mouth each day. Your brush and floss can reach where they need to and there will be fewer “food traps” where residue accumulates day after day. The investment in aligners will make your mouth healthier (and don’t forget, your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body!)

Prevent, Manage, and Treat TMJ Disorder/Headaches

Any time our teeth don’t fit together appropriately, it leads to an imbalance in our jaws and TMJ (jaw joints.) When we chew and bite into food, our TMJ accommodates the misalignment by moving in an atypical manner.

Over time, all of those irregular TMJ motions take a toll on your joints and the muscles around them. Issues like headaches, joint pain, popping/clicking, and limited range of motion are extremely common.

On a related note, all of that irregular chewing will also lead to abnormal wear patterns on your teeth. If you look closely, some teeth will wear down prematurely or at an angle, while others do not. This development can further complicate the impact that crooked teeth have on your TMJ and add to unnecessary dental treatment needs.

Boost Your Immune System

Crowded, crooked teeth are some of the most at-risk places in your mouth to develop periodontal infections. And as research shows, periodontal disease is also closely related to major medical concerns like:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Infertility, ED, and preeclampsia
• Pneumonia
• Perhaps even dementia and cancer.

How? Because the bacteria inside of your mouth—around crooked teeth, in this case—can spread through infected gums and transfer directly into your bloodstream. From there, they travel throughout your body and can become lodged inside of your arteries, heart, or around your brain. It’s also common for dental plaque to be inhaled into the lungs.

Yes, straight teeth last longer. But straightening your smile could also be part of a comprehensive care plan for managing chronic gum disease. By aligning your teeth, your oral hygiene routine will become more effective and you can drastically lower the bacterial load inside your body. Especially when paired with preventative cleanings and periodontal care. Plus, clear aligners make brushing and flossing easy! There are no wires or brackets for plaque or food to stick to.

Dental Hygiene in Downtown San Diego

You’re never “too old” for healthier, straighter teeth. At AlignBar, we work with adults of all ages to find their path to better oral wellness and a more attractive smile.

Are you due for a checkup? Our dentists in downtown San Diego will help you get your smile back on the right track. From preventative care to clear aligners, your teeth and gums are in good hands. Contact us today to reserve a consultation.