For many people straight teeth are associated with a beautiful smile but is that all?
While well aligned teeth can make smile more attractive, straight teeth can also dramatically improve person’s oral health and function.
70% of adult US population has some type of misalignment, such as crowding, spacing, open bite, deep bite/overbite, cross bite, edge to edge bite. Left untreated misaligned teeth can lead to gum disease, cavities, teeth fractures and jaw joint pain.
For my 24 years in practice I have seen the detrimental effect of improper bite and crowded teeth. Here are some of the main reason why we like to have our teeth straight.
Maintain proper hygiene and avoid gum disease and cavities.
Straight teeth are easy to clean. When teeth are properly aligned it is easier to brush and floss. Because it is difficult to remove plaque and bacteria in the crowded area, bacteria will multiply and trigger gum inflammation. Left untreated gum infection will progress to chronic inflammation of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth that leads to bone loss and eventually tooth loss
Retained plaque and food also create acidic conditions that cause tooth erosions and are the main cause for cavities and root canals.
Proper bite to avoid premature teeth wear and breaking
When teeth are properly aligned and the bite is corrected the teeth function much better. We want biting forces to be evenly distributed to the teeth during chewing. Teeth that are under the excessive pressure because of premature bite can develop chipping and deep grooves at the gum line. Excessive force can cause premature wear of the teeth and fracture of the edges of the teeth. Excessive force can lead to gum recessions and uncomfortable sensitivity to cold and hot.
Jaw joint health. Misalignment can cause chronic pain the jaw joint. Bad bite can produce inadequate force on the jaw joints that leads to joints paint, ear aches or sometimes headaches.
Straight teeth not only look good, but will be easier to keep clean and function better with less wear.
Teeth that fit correctly last longer and need less dentistry