10 Remarkable Health Advantages of Straight Teeth

Malocclusion or improper teeth alignment is most often hereditary. It may be an outcome of the difference between the size of the upper and lower teeth or between the size of the tooth and jaw. There are multiple benefits of having straight teeth but people with improper teeth alignment cannot avail them.

Other reasons could be congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate, tumors of the mouth and jaw, extra/impacted/missing/abnormally shaped teeth; misaligned jaw fractures after severe injury, childhood habits, or ill-fitting dental appliances, dental fillings, retainers, crowns, or braces. Wondering, “Will veneers straighten my teeth?” Thankfully, there are many ways to fix crooked or misaligned teeth. This includes retainers, porcelain veneers, and braces like metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign.

Crooked or misaligned teeth are usually considered an aesthetic issue. Orthodontists can help straighten teeth and shape out beautiful smiles. But, why straight teeth are important and why is it healthier to have straight teeth?

While having straight teeth contributes to an aesthetic smile, there are also quite significant health benefits of having straight teeth. Curious to know about them? This article provides answers to most asked questions about the benefits of having straighter teeth and surprising ways life is better with straight teeth.

Why Straight Teeth Are Important?

Straight teeth provide a multitude of benefits, both cosmetic and health-related. Here are the 10 health benefits of having straight teeth.  

1. Healthier Teeth

Crooked or misaligned teeth provide a lot of space for food debris to get trapped and mouth bacteria to reside. Thus, they allow dental plaque to grow and hide. On the other hand, straight teeth are simply referred to by people as healthier teeth. That’s because straighter teeth have not much food trapped between them so they are not at risk of decay and cavities caused by long-term buildup of dental plaque.

2. Better Maintenance of Oral Hygiene

The most rewarding benefit of having straight teeth is easier cleaning. It’s hard to brush or floss crowded or out of alignment teeth so they are more likely to have plaque buildup and eventually decay. Having straight teeth can make brushing and flossing markedly easier and help maintain good oral hygiene. 

3. No Uneven Wear On Teeth

Is it healthier to have straight teeth? The answer is yes. As teeth can undergo a lot of wear and tear as they break down the food into smaller pieces in the mouth. If they are not straight or too crowded, they can rub with each other in unnatural ways to cause uneven wear and tear of enamel and inefficient chewing. Straighter teeth have less or no abnormal wear and tear instead they relieve pressure on gums, roots, and mouth and help improve the longevity of natural teeth by keeping them healthy.

4. Healthier Gums

The health of the teeth is directly linked to the health of the gums. Crowded teeth or too widely spaced teeth result in red and swollen gums. Unhealthy gums can eventually develop gum disease and loss of jawbone bone and teeth. Straight teeth will help the gums fit more securely around the teeth and keep further periodontal problems at bay.

5. Benefits of Having Straight Teeth with Clear Speech

Crooked, gapped, protruded, or out-of-aligned teeth can cause many speech impediments. For instance, a serious overbite or open bite can result in a lisp or a whistling noise while one pronounces certain words. A straight, well-aligned teeth set ensures a clear speech.

6. No Compromise on Chewing and Better Digestion

Misaligned teeth often manifest as bite issues, which can further lead to difficulty chewing. Chewing is the beginning of the process of digestion of food. If food is not properly chewed, one can face digestive problems such as gas, indigestion, and not enough nutrients uptake from ingested food. With straight teeth, it is easier to eat any food of choice and have good digestion. Straight teeth allow one to chew food more thoroughly which speeds up the digestion process due to the efficient working of the stomach and intestines. 

7.  Lower Risk of Tooth and Soft Tissue Injury

When teeth are crooked or out of alignment, they are more prone to a variety of health concerns than straight teeth. The concerns include an impaction following the traumatic accident and injury to the soft tissues of the mouth. An overjet or protruding teeth can easily get chipped, cracked, or even knocked out in an accident.

People having crooked or protruded teeth are even more susceptible to biting on their cheeks and tongue, which can lead to painful sores. Straight teeth are more protected against any chipping, cracking, or breaking. Moreover, there is less chance of soft tissues being affected.   

8. Improved Overall Well-Being

Oral and general health are linked to one another. Poor oral hygiene can lead to different types of oral health issues such as strokes, kidney and heart disease, and diabetes. Much of the overall health issues usually show up from decay and gum disease which are only further perpetuated by crowded and crooked teeth.

9. No Headaches or Neck Pain

Crooked, crowded, or out-of-aligned teeth can unevenly wear. They impact mouth parts around them but can go far beyond them. The unnecessary stress on the gums and jawbone supporting them can often translate to headaches and neck pain. Straight teeth will not cause such problems. That’s because bite issues are corrected and the temporomandibular joints are allowed to move smoothly without discomfort,

10. Boost in Self-Esteem and Confidence

Achieving or maintaining positive mental health is a crucial part of general well-being. A straight smile means better smile aesthetics which is a key to improved mental health meaning increased self-confidence and esteem.

Conclusion

After going through the health benefits of having straight teeth, it is clear that it is crucial to have straight teeth for better oral and general health. With advancements in dentistry, straightening of teeth is now much easier with early orthodontic treatments. If you want to get on a path toward straighter teeth, contact First Point Dental Clinic today to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced and passionate staff are always eager to help you achieve straight and healthy teeth. We will help find the best orthodontic tool to correct your teeth alignment or bite issues. We serve people of all ages.