Are you worried about the state of your smile? If your teeth look crooked, crowded, or poorly aligned, consider straightening your teeth! You’re never too old for orthodontics.

In fact, one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 18.

Improving the appearance of your smile and boosting your confidence are only two small benefits of straight teeth. Keep reading to discover the rest! By uncovering the benefits of having perfectly straight teeth, you can make a smarter decision for your oral health.

Read on to discover the top straight teeth benefits today!

1. Reduce Decay

Gaps between your teeth or awkward angles could make it difficult for you to brush and floss. Maintaining these habits is essential to your oral health, though.

Otherwise, food particles might hide away between your teeth. If you don’t clean those particles away, they’ll mix with bacteria. Bacteria can feed off the food particles and spread, causing plaque to form.

Plaque is a clear, filmy substance that can cling to the surface of your teeth. In time, plaque can harden into tartar. You’ll need a dentist’s help to remove tartar away.

If you don’t remove the tartar, cavities and gum disease can develop.

Don’t risk it! Instead, consider the benefits of straight teeth. 

Straightening your teeth will keep food particles from hiding away. You can maintain your oral hygiene routine with ease. Then, you’ll reduce your risk of decay.

Otherwise, leaving gaps between your teeth or having crooked teeth could speed up the decay process. You might experience tooth loss or pain. You’ll need to spend a lot of money on treatment, too.

Taking preventative measures now by learning how to straighten teeth can benefit you for years to come. 

2. Easier Chewing

If your teeth aren’t straight, you might struggle to chew your favorite foods. You might have to make adjustments to your diet as a result. Unfortunately, that could lead to a vitamin deficiency.

You don’t have to cut certain foods out of your diet for good. Instead, consider the benefits of having perfectly straight teeth. Straightening your teeth will make chewing easier.

You’ll have an easier time maintaining a well-balanced, nutritious diet as a result. 

3. Improved Digestion

If you’re not chewing properly, it could impact your ability to digest food. Otherwise, the bacteria in your stomach might not work as efficiently. You could experience indigestion and digestive issues.

Instead, discover how to straighten teeth with orthodontic treatment. 

Once your teeth are straight, you’ll have an easier time chewing. Chewing your food can make digestion easier on your internal organs. You can cause less damage to your body over time. 

4. Prevent Jaw Strain

If your teeth are crooked, you might develop jaw misalignment. Misalignment can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. You might start experiencing pain as a result.

Having straight teeth benefits your jaw health. You could avoid a jaw disorder and related problems in the future. 

Otherwise, jaw straight could cause:

  • Dizziness
  • Ear problems
  • Headaches

If you experience these symptoms, let your dentist know right away. They can recommend solutions to help you get perfect teeth. 

Here are a few other signs you might need braces

5. Speak Clearly

If your teeth are crooked, you could develop speech problems. For example, you might develop a lisp or speech impediment. In some cases, speed impediments are a coping mechanism for hiding your crooked teeth. 

Having crooked teeth could even cause you to lose teeth, which can lead to even more issues.

If you’re unable to speak clearly, it could impact your self-confidence. You might struggle in social settings. You might feel less comfortable at school or work, too.

Instead, consider getting perfectly straight teeth. You can speak clearly and improve your confidence. 

6. Avoid Gum Disease

About 47% of adults ages 30 and up have some form of periodontal. Symptoms can include:

  • Bad breath
  • A bad taste in your mouth
  • Tender or bleeding gums
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Loose teeth
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Gums that recede from your teeth
  • Changes to how your partial dentures fit
  • Changes to how your teeth fit together when you bite down
  • Painful chewing
  • Sensitive teeth

Your risk of developing gum disease might increase if you have crooked teeth. Instead, consider the benefits of straight teeth. You can keep plaque and food particles from hiding between your teeth.

Your risk of gum disease will decrease as a result.

7. Sleep Easy

If you have crooked teeth, you might start grinding your teeth. You could develop a sleep problem or disorder, such as sleep apnea. If you’re not getting enough sleep each night, it could lead to problems during the day.

For example, you might get into an accident or have trouble concentrating.

Instead, you can straighten your teeth to avoid bruxism.

8. Avoid Accidents

Crooked teeth could increase your risk of an accident. If you’re in a car crash, for example, you might get your teeth knocked out. You could chip or break a tooth, too.

Instead, consider getting perfectly straight teeth with orthodontic treatment. 

9. Minimize Grinding

Remember, you might start grinding your teeth if they’re not aligned properly. Teeth grinding can cause wear and tear on your enamel. Your enamel is meant to protect your teeth from decay.

Grinding could cause pain and impact your quality of life.

Instead, straighten your teeth!

10. Make Space

Straightening your teeth could make it easier for you to receive other forms of treatment. For example, you might consider an implant if you’re missing a tooth. Before receiving an implant, it’s important to ensure your teeth are straight.

Otherwise, you might not have room for the implant!

11. Boost Your Confidence

These benefits of straight teeth can all accomplish a bigger goal: boosting your confidence.

When your teeth are straight, you’ll no longer feel the need to hide your smile. Instead, you can grin ear to ear. You’ll feel more confident in social settings, too.

Straighter Smiles: 11 Health Benefits of Straight Teeth

Don’t let crooked teeth impact your smile, health, or quality of life. Instead, consider these 11 benefits of straight teeth. With orthodontic treatment, you can start showing off your smile with complete confidence. 

Ready to discuss your options with a member of our team? We’re here to help.

Request an appointment today to get started.