Many of us aspire to that perfect white Hollywood smile because we feel sure that it will improve our looks and boost our self-confidence. But the truth is that the advantages of having straight teeth go way beyond what they look like. Having straighter teeth can also bring us a number of significant health benefits, helping us to live longer and healthier lives by improving everything from our digestion to the way we breathe when we’re asleep.
Intrigued? Read on to find out how you can boost your health by investing in having any misaligned teeth straightened.
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Perfectly Aligned Teeth Mean Healthier Gums
One of the biggest benefits of having straight teeth is that they’re much easier to keep clean, as there are no nooks and crannies where bacteria and plaque can build up. This means your gums will be in much better condition – and this, in turn, has important implications for your heart health.
Research has revealed that people suffering from gum disease could be up to 20% more likely to go on to develop heart disease too.
Improved Digestion
As well as keeping your ticker in good nick, another great reason to straighten your teeth is that it will improve your digestion into the bargain.
Because straight teeth are well-aligned, you’ll be able to chew your food with greater ease and efficiency; this, in turn, makes it easier for your body to digest the food once you’ve swallowed it.
Crooked teeth, on the other hand, have a less effective bite, which means you’ll chew less efficiently. You’re also more likely to suffer wear and tear on your enamel, so your teeth will be more prone to damage. Over time, you may even begin to suffer from tooth loss, if the damage isn’t corrected and you don’t have regular dental treatments to thoroughly clean and inspect your crooked teeth and gums.
A Relaxed Jaw
People who suffer from a misaligned bite often go on to struggle with jaw-related issues such as teeth grinding, jaw ache, and even migraines. TMJ disorders are a common complaint and can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms including pain in the jaw, shoulders, and neck, as well as swelling of the face and a locking jaw when your mouth is either open or closed.
By correcting your bite by straightening your teeth, you will help to ease these symptoms – and hopefully get rid of them altogether.
Easy As Breathing
You may not realise it, but there is a correlation between your teeth and the way you breathe. In fact, it’s quite common for dentists to be the first to suggest that a patient may suffer from a sleep disorder, because they can spot some of the mouth-related early warning signs, such as worn teeth (caused by grinding), reddened throat (from snoring), and a sudden increase in cavities.
Sleep apnoea is a potentially serious condition that interrupts your breathing at night when you’re asleep, causing pauses of anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute and resulting in a gasp for breath.
Although having straighter teeth won’t necessarily banish sleep apnoea, it can definitely help to improve the symptoms and make sure you get a better night’s sleep.
