Most people associate straight teeth with appearance, and while it certainly is an excellent visual look that is highly desired, it is far from the only benefit when having your teeth straightened.
Beyond the beautiful smile straight teeth provide, they also offer a host of health benefits to the owner that makes them an even more sought-after cosmetic procedure. Find out all of the health benefits of straight teeth in this article to determine whether a teeth straightening process like clear aligners might be for you.
What are the benefits of straight teeth?
Straight teeth matter not only for aesthetics but also for your oral and overall health, with many benefits, including:
Effortless Cleaning
With awkward teeth that are crooked and crowded, it can be difficult to adequately manoeuvre a toothbrush into the stubborn nooks and crannies that may harbour bacteria which, if left uncleaned, could result in detrimental issues to your teeth.
Once straightened, not only will it mean you’ll have less food trapped between them, but you’ll also have much better access to brush your teeth effectively. Properly cleaned teeth mean they are as healthy as possible, preventing cavities and decay.
Easier Chewing
Straight teeth mean you’ll have an improved bite. This is where your top and bottom teeth close together better, so when chewing food, your teeth will more closely meet.
A better bite will mean that you can effectively crush solid foods into smaller bits for swallowing when you eat. Properly chewed food can be digested easier as well as not require excessive chewing that could cause unnecessary wear.
Better tooth and gum health
With straighter teeth that are easier to clean, you are far less likely to encounter common issues from crooked teeth. These issues include ineffective cleaning and uneven pressure on your teeth from an incorrect bite. This can cause excessive wear on certain teeth resulting in damage to your jaw and teeth.
Crowded or widely spaced teeth can cause swollen, painful gums. If untreated, this could eventually develop into gum disease that leads to loss of bone and teeth. Straight teeth will allow your gums to more comfortably fit around your teeth, meaning they are healthier.
Reduced risk of dental accidents
While you cannot help when a tooth injury happens, crowded or protruding teeth have a higher risk of being affected by traumatic accidents such as sport-related knocks. Having straighter teeth will mean you will be less vulnerable to dental injuries such as chips, cracks and breaks as your teeth are more uniform.
Improved Confidence
A crooked smile can be a point of severe self-esteem issues causing you to be conscious about how you look and preventing you from smiling for fear of them being seen. Studies have shown that this is particularly the case in children and teenagers, who are more susceptible to issues relating to confidence as it is such a pivotal time.
Clear aligners can give you that perfectly straight smile, resulting in a considerable boost in your confidence with no concern about them being displayed. Therefore, the mental health benefits of straight teeth are another reason you may want to invest in teeth straightening treatment.
Start your clear aligner journey and get the benefits of straight teeth
It’s clear to see that straight teeth offer far more benefits than initially perceived, as these oral health improvements can attest. Oral hygiene has even been linked to other health problems such as heart and kidney disease, strokes and diabetes. So with that in mind, it becomes obvious why straight teeth are so essential.
At Clear Aligners Southampton, we specialise in Invisalign treatment for a wide range of different cases. No matter how complex or unique your situation, our award-winning specialists can transform your smile, providing you with a host of health benefits with a personalised clear aligner treatment plan. Get in touch today to organise a consultation where our dentists can assess the best options for your case.
