Straight Teeth: Not Just About Looks

The most obvious impact of orthodontic treatment is a straighter, more attractive smile.

While it is true that we tend to perceive people with properly aligned teeth as happier and more successful, the benefits aren’t just superficial.

Clearer Speech

Do you remember the lisp you had between losing your two front teeth and the adult ones growing in? Based on that, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that our teeth are a crucial component to our ability to speak and enunciate clearly.

In order to make the right sounds, our lips and tongues have to maneuver around our teeth. When teeth are properly aligned, this is simple, but crooked teeth can result in a lisp, slurring, or difficulty making certain sounds that require tongue-to-tooth contact, such as the “t,” “s,” and “ch” sounds. Orthodontic treatment can solve these problems by moving the teeth into their proper positions.

Healthier Digestion

We don’t give our teeth enough credit for the role they play in good digestion. Chewing is a very important part of the process. It doesn’t just chop the food into small enough pieces to fit down the esophagus, it mixes the food with saliva, which begins the chemical digestion process.

When we wolf down our food without much chewing — or when we chew with misaligned teeth that don’t do the job effectively — it forces our stomachs to work harder than they should. If you already have straight teeth, put them to good use by chewing each mouthful for longer. If you don’t, your digestive system will thank you for getting orthodontic treatment.

Better Breathing

Having poorly aligned teeth can make it difficult or even impossible to comfortably close your jaws when you aren’t moving them, which can lead to habitual mouth breathing. Mouth breathing has a number of negative effects, including dry mouth, bad breath, snoring, chronic fatigue, and brain fog. The effects are an even bigger problem for kids, sometimes going as far as changing the development of their facial bone structure.

Video Transcript

[Music]

many people today are looking for ways to improve their appearance and often we hear about cosmetic dentistry

cosmetic dentistry refers to any procedure that would enhance one’s smile and generally we’re speaking about whitening bonding veneers and crowns our society or culture is very focused about appearance but we’re also looking for that quick fix or instant gratification but often a lot of these makeovers or coverups neglect the importance of health and camouflage underlying problems

[Music]

everyone wants straight white teeth but what’s the best way to get there there may be several options for patients to consider in improving their smile and they need to weigh and measure the pros and cons associated with those procedures risk factors cost time element all need to be considered in making the best decision for a longlasting result

[Music]

to look at Cosmetics alone would be like putting siding on a house that has structural flaws or new tires on a car that’s out of alignment the focus of Orthodontics is to get great function and also to give us a beautiful smile

[Music]

if one has a bad bite or a Mal occlusion due to the fact that the teeth or Jaws are not in good position and they opt for a cosmetic fix alone they may be jeopardizing or compromising their successful result so it’s very important to understand what the problem is before undertaking a solution

[Music]

if your teeth is shifted and worned done over the course of time it may be unrealistic and not in your best interest to choose a quick fix often it’s much better to see an orthodontist to have the bite addressed so that you can have a great smile and a lasting result

[Music]

a good solution for many patients is a team approach especially with adults that present with complex problems and issues often orthodontists General dentists and the various Dental Specialties collaborate to achieve amazing results that otherwise could not be accomplished alone

[Music]

orthodontic treatment is certainly very affordable and may be one of the best values in health care and considering that certain cosmetic procedures may be subject to failure breakage and there are maintenance issues Orthodontics in the long run may be less expensive

[Music]

many patients are pleasantly surprised and amazed at the outcome of their orthodontic treatment Orthodontics May in many cases actually eliminate the need for certain cosmetic procedures or minimize the amount of Dentistry that needs to be done

[Music]

most people value and appreciate the significance of a great smile but the goal in achieving a great smile should be an aesthetic one and not just cosmetic aesthetic meaning Beauty and function natural long lasting Health stability Comfort all Dentistry should be aesthetic and respect the fact that we’re dealing with a biological system and not just six Front Teeth

[Music]

patients shouldn’t have to trade health for beauty and they don’t need to they can have it all see you an orthodontist for a great smile

Straight Teeth For A Better Life

Not only do straight teeth make it easier to speak, eat, and breathe properly, they’re also easier to clean! Maybe you’ve been avoiding orthodontic treatment because you’re happy with the way your smile looks, but the many benefits of straight teeth are worth considering.

Share this Article