Why Are Straight Teeth Important? | Dallas Dentist

porcelain veneersNature doesn’t always provide straight teeth but there’s ample evidence that having straight teeth delivers extra benefits to your health and well being. Whether you’re born with straight teeth, or straighten them with orthodontics, read on for reasons why this is a smart idea and a great health investment.

Straight teeth provide the correct foundation for chewing.  When your bite doesn’t align properly, it can cause pain along with dental problems. To check your bite in a mirror, expose your teeth, bite normally, and observe whether the uppers and lowers align normally. Each tooth should more or less line up with its twin. Misaligned teeth (crooked or crowded teeth) can cause issues from chronic jaw or tooth pain to excessive wear on tooth enamel.  A poor bite increases stress on teeth and contributes to a shortened “life span” where teeth begin to crack and develop other signs of fatigue.  If you want your teeth to last a lifetime (and who doesn’t?) a healthy bite is the best way to ensure this.

Cleaning straight teeth is much easier than cleaning crooked teeth, which offer a multitude of hard-to-get-to hiding places for plaque and tiny bits of food.  Not cleaning these hiding spots properly will first lead to excessive cavities. The next stage may be gingivitis, or an inflammation between the teeth and gums.  Today science links chronic inflammation with a variety of health disorders including heart disease and cancer, so dealing with ANY inflammation when it appears is essential. If you don’t deal with it, an ongoing toxic mix of bacteria and inflammation can then progress to periodontitis, a very serious disease which causes tooth loss. In worst case scenarios, periodontitis may even contribute to heart attacks and strokes.

On a practical level, any toothbrush has an easier time brushing a nice straight tooth surface. The more contact your toothbrush makes with the entirety of the tooth face, the cleaner your teeth. Flossing straight teeth is simpler too. Crowded teeth often require hand acrobatics to get the floss between teeth, and even then, with some teeth, it’s impossible.

In our culture, we associate straight teeth with beauty, vitality, health and even status. Being born with perfectly straight teeth is actually rare. It’s typically achieved through orthodontic treatment. So people who have straight teeth are often assumed to be more wealthy and successful than their peers with crooked teeth.  For many parents, the ability to provide orthodontic treatment for their kids has a strong emotional component, because they want their children to have every advantage.  And straight teeth and a great smile do provide a self-confidence boost in social settings.

Curious about whether your teeth could benefit from straightening?  Set up an appointment for a consultation. Today advanced technology like Invisalign means straight teeth can be achieved in a fraction of the time it used to take. And even better, the invisible aligners ensure no one will even realize you’re doing it.

If you think that you may be ready for a more perfect smile, contact Dr. Gary Alhadef, DDS to schedule a consult today. Visit our website at www.dallascosmeticdental.com to learn more about veneers.

Dr. Gary Alhadef, DDS proudly serves Dallas and all surrounding areas.

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