What are the long-term benefits of braces?

For some patients, having straight teeth is not the only reason to look into getting braces. While boosted confidence from straightening their teeth can be reason enough for some patients, getting traditional or invisalign braces with the help of a professional dentist can also result in long-term health benefits and are worth considering.

Prevent tooth decay

One of the key benefits of braces is improved oral cleanliness. Straight teeth can be kept cleaner. Simple as it may be, the benefits of better oral hygiene start largely with giving patients the ability to keep their teeth and gums clean. Difficult to clean teeth can result in trapped bacteria between the misaligned teeth and gums. If the bacteria is left long enough without cleaning it can start to diminish the surface enamel of the teeth. If you want to know how to take better care of your oral hygiene, visit our Olathe family dentist office. We’ll help you maintain your teeth to keep them clean and healthy.

Prevent gum disease

Gum disease, often categorized as gingivitis, is an infection in the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. While nearly half of the United States adult population has some variation of gum disease – braces to straighten teeth can help to prevent it later in life. Misaligned teeth can cause food to get stuck between them and usually becomes more irritable over time. Having straight teeth allows bacteria to be removed before it gets to the stage of causing gum disease. It is advisable to have your children visit a children’s dentist regularly to prevent dental issues such as gum disease and to learn proper oral hygiene.

Prevent bone erosion 

If there is an inability to clean bacteria out from between two misaligned teeth, the bacteria can make its way up into the gums or tooth leading to eroding or weakening of the bone. Unfortunately, misaligned teeth are one of the most common causes of jawbone erosion from the extra force on certain teeth and gums.

Relieve pain and headaches 

Uneven pressure and force from misaligned teeth can lead to headaches, jaw pain and even ear pain. Relieving points of pressure and pain by straightening the teeth with braces can be an effective way for some patients who suffer from headaches and jaw pain to live more comfortably. If you’re experiencing headaches from misaligned teeth, come visit our Olathe dentist office for a consultation – we may be able to help.

Reduce the risk of damaging and chipping teeth 

Overlapping teeth are more susceptible to uneven wear and tear because not all of the teeth get used equally for chewing and biting. On the other hand, straight teeth with even spaces allow force from biting and chewing to be evenly distributed. Too much force applied to a tooth increases the likelihood of cracking and breaking. Protruding teeth are more likely to be damaged in an injury or injuries occurred due to an auto accident involving the mouth as noted by Beach Injury Lawyers.

It is easy with the help of a lawyer to file a claim for an auto accident injury and get recovered soon. Because they stand out further than the rest of the teeth and don’t have a stable base, they are at a higher risk of breaking or chipping from an injury. If you more information on injury attorneys, click for more info here. For instance, a person with an overbite or underbite who injures their mouth is more likely to have broken teeth as a result.

Relief to the digestive system

Enhanced digestive health results from a better ability to chew food more thoroughly. Misaligned teeth can affect how well an individual can eat or chew and as a result, how well they can digest food. As a result, patients commonly find sections of their mouth are not able to break down food. This leads to large bites of food in the stomach and can cause digestive problems. After braces, and because of their straighter teeth, patients can chew their food more thoroughly, providing relief to their digestive system.

Improve comfort and quality of life 

In addition to mitigating headaches, jaw and ear pain, people with straighter teeth are less likely to bite their tongue, gums and insides of their mouth because of the way their teeth sit. In extreme cases, breathing problems can also arise from misaligned teeth later in life and are also more likely to strain the jaw and mouth.

Braces can have numerous benefits including better oral hygiene and less pain when eating, speaking, smiling and enjoying daily life. While cosmetic reasons can sometimes be the reason behind braces, it’s worth considering all of the other benefits which can help improve patients’ quality of life. At Rhoades Family Dentistry, we understand all of our patients have different cosmetic wishes and orthodontic needs. Ultimately, the decision for braces is up to you, and we want to provide you with information to make the most informed decision possible. We take time in considering the needs of each patient and will prioritize their best interest to provide them with compassionate, understanding dental care.

If you have any questions about whether you or your child needs braces, or you would like to learn more about the long-term health benefits of braces please call your trusted Olathe dentist office today at 913-782-8900. We offer orthodontic appointments in our Olathe dentist office for traditional braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign and six-month smiles. We’d be glad to meet and talk more in-depth about you or your child’s oral health. We want you to be able to maximize your quality of life and spend time pain-free. For more information on when your child should have their first orthodontic consultation at our dentist office in Olathe, visit this blog post.