Teeth Straightening

The Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment Beyond Aesthetics

There’s no doubt that orthodontic treatment can work wonders for your smile. Straightening your teeth can improve your appearance and skyrocket your confidence. But surely this isn’t the only benefit of the treatment, right?

In fact, orthodontics can have widespread benefits on your oral health. This is one of the reasons that orthodontics is only available on the NHS in cases where it is clinically necessary. The aesthetic outcomes are often secondary to the health benefits found in perfectly aligned teeth.

So, what are these benefits? If you’re thinking about orthodontics to help correct imperfections in your smile, what are the other ways you might benefit from this treatment? In this guide, we’re looking at some of the ways a straighter smile can have compound benefits in other areas of your life.

Orthodontics improves your bite

Orthodontics improves your bite

A straighter smile is actually a secondary benefit to correcting your bite. Your bite refers to the way your top and bottom jaw fit together and work together. When there are issues with your bite, you can experience a wide range of consequences, including stomach problems, breathing issues, sleep problems and tension headaches.

By addressing and optimising the alignment of your jaw, you can enjoy benefits to your wider health. Here are some of the ways you can experience improvements in your wider health as a result of orthodontic treatment:

  • When your bite is misaligned, you might struggle to chew your food correctly. This can lead you to swallow food that is not yet fully chewed, and this can lead to digestive problems and even malnutrition. By correcting your bite, you can improve digestion.

  • Misalignment in the jaw can make it difficult to breathe correctly through your nose, which can lead to something known as mouth breathing. This can cause dry mouth, which is a leading cause of tooth decay, and also impact your sleep. You’re more likely to snore as a result of poor jaw alignment, which can impact your quality of life.

  • Problems with your jaw can impact the temporomandibular joint, leading to TMJ problems. This can leave you with an aching feeling in your jaw in addition to tension headaches. Many people go a long time before making the link between their jaw problems and their headaches, as they never think to bring up their headaches to their dentist, and their GP might not be inclined to ask about their teeth.

As you can see, your jaw alignment has a wide impact on your wider health, not just your oral health. This is why orthodontic treatment is commonly used to address seemingly unrelated problems.

Straight teeth are easier to care for

Straight teeth are easier to care for

Another simple reason that orthodontic treatment can offer benefits beyond aesthetics is simply that straight teeth are much easier to care for. When your teeth are misaligned, you are more likely to struggle to brush and floss effectively.

When your teeth are perfectly aligned, as much as 40% of the tooth surface is between the teeth. With misaligned teeth, even more can be inaccessible.

By addressing the alignment of your teeth, you can make it easier to brush and floss effectively at home. This can reduce your risk of common conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Better oral health has the further benefit of reducing the likelihood that you will face dental emergencies as a result of tooth decay in the future. This can drive down your future oral health care costs, as you won’t be paying for emergency treatment or restorative care.

Investing in your smile encourages better habits

Investing in your smile encourages better habits

Orthodontic treatment is not free (unless you are eligible for free NHS treatment). And the cost is not only in the financial investment, but also the time investment. Orthodontic treatment also requires a time investment, and this knowledge will stay with you long after treatment has ended.

By investing in your smile and your oral health, you are far more likely to take good care of your teeth in the future. You’re less likely to adopt unhealthy habits such as smoking or vaping, as this could have a negative impact on your teeth.

You’re more likely to stick to a regular dental checkup routine and follow the advice of your dentist – after all, you’ve invested time and money in perfecting your smile.

May address speech problems

You might not even be aware that the alignment of your teeth has an impact on your speech. With proper alignment of the teeth, you’ll also enjoy better tongue positioning in your mouth, which can help you to articulate clearly and avoid speech impediments.

Since the changes are gradual as you progress through the treatment plan, your mouth can gradually adapt to the changes in your tooth alignment. We know that losing a tooth can lead to changes in speech, so it follows that optimising the alignment of your jaw can also benefit your speech.

Improved self-esteem

Improved self-esteem

Your smile says a lot about you. If you feel confident in your ability to smile, you’re more likely to put yourself out there in various situations. People often report improvements in their confidence at work, in social situations and in romantic connections.

You might not realise how much your smile is holding you back until you no longer have to live with the embarrassment of having to hide your teeth when you smile. You might find you are more likely to go for a promotion at work, you might be more open to social invitations, and you might find that it improves your dating life by making you more confident when you meet new people.

Ready to start your orthodontic journey?

If you’re curious about how orthodontic treatment could help you, it’s time to book a consultation with our team. We can advise you on the orthodontic treatment journey and how it could help you to look and feel more confident. We offer a range of orthodontic treatment systems to suit all budgets and lifestyles, so you can find the treatment plan that is right for you. Book an appointment today to learn more.

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