10 Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

Pretty much everyone knows orthodontic treatment straightens your teeth. But do you know all the ways orthodontics can benefit those who have treatment?

In this post, Jasleen Raina, DDS and Nodesh Shyamsunder, BDS and the team at Beaches Dentistry review 10 ways orthodontic treatment benefits patients at their practice in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Read on to learn how treatment could help you.

1. Improved Smile Esthetics & Confidence

A more attractive smile is the most obvious benefit of having orthodontic treatment. After all, when your teeth are lined up evenly and your bite is restored, your smile looks confident and attractive — to yourself and to others, too. In fact, while different people may have different opinions of what makes someone attractive, pretty much everyone agrees a beautiful smile is an important feature to have. Your smile has a huge impact on your appearance, and if your teeth are not straight or you have other alignment problems, it can take a big bite out of your self-esteem. Next to improved smile aesthetics, greater self-confidence is perhaps one of the most significant and well-known benefits of orthodontic treatment.

3. Reduced risk of tooth Wear 

About 9% of Americans grind their teeth, and among kids, the rate is even higher — up to 50%. Every time you grind your teeth, you’re putting as much as 250 pounds of force on the tooth surface, increasing your risks of chronic headaches, facial pain, and tooth damage. By properly aligning your teeth, orthodontics restores normal bite balance and reduces the risk of bruxism.

2. Improved oral health

Orthodontics helps reduce your risks of cavities and gum disease. That’s because when your teeth are properly aligned and evenly spaced, it’s much easier to clean your teeth and your gums with regular brushing and flossing. When teeth are crooked, bacteria and plaque have places to hide and this can start disease such as cavities, gum loss, bone loss and periodontal disease. 

3. Better overall health & Improved Function

Research has shown potential links between poor oral health and serious, chronic medical problems, like heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory and lung diseases, and pregnancy complications, as well as certain cancers. By improving alignmnent with Orthodontics, you can maintain better oral hygiene, hence better oral health which will reduce your risk of oral disease and related health issues. 

Some bite issues such as open bite can lead to functional impairment such as chewing and biting foods and speech. Restoring proper alignment in such cases includes improvements in speech and the way you chew, which in turn can improve your nutritional health.

6. Better bite mechanics

As noted earlier, crooked teeth can lead to an unbalanced bite, and that puts uneven strain on your jaw joints. Over time, inflammation inside the jaw joints can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD), a chronic problem that can cause significant pain. With orthodontics, your bite is rebalanced, relieving strain on your jaw joints and reducing your risk of TMJ.

4. Lower risk of dental emergencies

Poor tooth alignment can all lead to problems like tooth cracks and fractures, decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. Teeth that protrude are also more prone to chipping and cracks. Orthodontics addresses all these underlying problems to help reduce the risk of dental emergencies and problems in the long term.

5. Lower future dental costs

Reducing your risks of dental emergencies, gum disease, and cavities means less time spent at the dentist and less costly treatments in the future. Investing in orthodontic treatment now could wind up saving you a lot more in the future.

10. Better impression on others

It’s true that beauty is only skin deep, but it’s also true that when you meet someone for the first time, it’s human nature to make some assumptions based on a person’s appearance. If your smile looks uncared for, it makes you look less “in control” of your life and your future. By straightening your teeth and beautifying your smile, you project an air of confidence and self-assurance.

Orthodontic treatment offers plenty of benefits that go far beyond improving the way your smile looks. To learn how orthodontic treatment can benefit you — now and for the rest of your life — call 904-246-6714 or book an appointment online with the team at Beaches Dentistry today.