Considering braces or Invisalign to straighten your or your child’s teeth? You probably have lots of questions. Which orthodontic treatment is better? Which is more cost-effective?
Many people don’t realize that the benefits of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a pretty smile. Straight teeth don’t just look nice – it can lead to healthier teeth and gums, reduce TMJ issues, improve airflow, and give you more chewing surface. According to the American Dental Association, straightening your teeth can actually significantly affect your overall dental health.1 Think about when you see someone with crooked teeth — don’t you assume that their teeth aren’t as healthy as they can be? Having a well-aligned smile and reducing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease go hand in hand.
HEALTHIER TEETH AND GUMS
Swollen, red gums often signify periodontal (gum) disease, and can result from having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. Your mouth is evolutionarily designed to have straight teeth, so that gums fit snugly around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against bacteria that can infect the gums. That’s where Invisalign and orthodontics comes in. The comfortable and sometimes clear aligners gently and gradually begin to move your teeth into the proper position.
OVERALL HEALTH
Think of your teeth as a doorway to the health of your body. Every time you chew and swallow, you are ingesting food, water, and whatever bacteria is growing in your mouth. When you have a cavity or gum disease – that’s a chronic infection that your body is constantly fighting – which is taking resources away from other battles your body can be fighting.
Left untreated, gum disease can cause mouth sores, tender or bleeding gums, bad breath, and even tooth loss. Studies by the American Dental Association have shown that oral infections can also lead to other more serious illnesses such as heart disease, 2 stroke, 3pneumonia 4 and diabetes5. After invisalign and orthodontics, your straight teeth will be easier to take care of, and will even be “self-cleaning” to a certain extent. This will reduce the risk of possible problems. And correctly aligned teeth can also alleviate the issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difficulties, jaw problems, and increased wear on tooth enamel. Invisalign effectively addresses all of these issues – not just the aesthetic ones. We want to help your child grow organically, sometimes it involves orthodontics for optimal long-term health. Ask us about our holistic approach to adult or children’s orthodontics.
http://ada.org/4081.aspx?currentTab=2.
http://ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_61.pdf.
http://ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_61.pdf.
http://ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/patient_18.pdf.