In many cases, people see orthodontic work as purely cosmetic. They think its only use is making teeth look straight and aligned. However, the truth is that this field also fixes health problems. You can trust it to make your whole mouth work better! Of course, you don’t have to accept these things point-blankly. Your Dallas dentist will happily explain if you want to learn more. To that end, here are four major oral health benefits of orthodontics.
It Reduces Tooth Decay
As it turns out, overlapping teeth decay over time. They suffer from the wear and tear of an improper bite. Furthermore, these pearly whites accumulate plaque that’s difficult to clean. The result is more bacteria eating away at your smile’s surface enamel.
All that said, wearing braces can minimize the issue. Aligned teeth don’t wear away as much and are easy to clean and maintain.
It Eases TMJ Pain
If you don’t already know, TMJ disorder is often due to a misaligned bite. The latter causes dysfunction in your jaw that leads to various aches. In particular, teeth that don’t line up well won’t let your TMJ and its surrounding muscles rest.
Thankfully, braces and similar appliances can adjust your bite. Once aligned, it’d ensure your teeth, jaw, and facial muscles work together well. Treatment would thus spare you from prolonged discomfort.
It Stops Teeth Grinding
It’s pretty easy to grind your teeth when they’re misaligned. They don’t evenly distribute pressure when you bite, so the excess force can press on a single tooth. From there, the pearly white is at greater risk of cracking or breaking.
Still, this misalignment can be fixed with orthodontics. Braces and aligners would correct your bite, resulting in less pressure on individual teeth. You’d then be less likely to grind or gnash your chompers by accident.
It Prevents Bone Erosion
Perhaps surprisingly, misaligned teeth can make your jawbone erode. The force they place on your smile and gums creates spaces where germs will multiply. In turn, those bacteria can reach your bone tissue and wear away at it.
With braces, though, things change. This appliance exercises your jaw to prevent bone erosion. At the same time, it prevents pockets from forming that might house plaque and bacteria.
Really, the oral health benefits of orthodontics are sizable. Take advantage of them by considering treatment with your local dental provider!
About the Practice
Midtown Family Dentistry is based in Dallas, TX. Led by its five fantastic dentists, our practice always strives to make a patient’s smile thrive. To that end, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental work. Naturally, our office also provides orthodontics like traditional braces and Invisalign® clear aligners. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (469)-529-6016.