A great smile can make you both look and feel better. It also has a positive effect on your mental health, self-esteem and confidence. The importance of teeth alignment is one of those things that most dentists don’t really talk about much. The reason for this is that there are many factors involved in ensuring a proper bite, and these vary from person to person. We will discuss the most important aspects of tooth alignment.
Well-aligned teeth give a healthy, beautiful smile. Did you know that well-aligned teeth can also affect your overall health?
Crooked or Misaligned teeth also known as malocclusion affect at least 80% of Nigerian adults. Left untreated, crooked, spaced teeth can lead to periodontal disease and create abnormal amounts of stress on teeth and jaws which can lead to premature wearing of the teeth.
The effects of crooked teeth can worsen over time and may adversely affect your overall health. Common types of misalignment or malocclusion include crowding, spacing, deep bite, open bite (as a result of sucking as a child), crossbite (also as a result of sucking or raw or skeletal jaw discrepancies, edge-to-edge bite (as a result of the inherited jaws from parents) and excessive overjet.
Crooked teeth can affect your bite creating unnatural stress and pressure leading to premature wearing out of the teeth because of the wrong bite. Teeth that are subject to excessive pressure can develop chipping and not just at the gum line. Over time, the excessive force may also cause flattened or worn down teeth or chipping and fractures at the edges of teeth.
Additionally, a bad bite may produce improper forces on the jaw joint that may lead to pain in the jaws, earache and even headaches sometimes. Premature wearing of teeth can lead to gum recession, poor bone support at the roots, loose teeth and eventually tooth loss. Teeth that fit together correctly last longer and are likely to need less costly dentistry in the future.
Crooked teeth can affect periodontal health because it is difficult to remove plaque and bacteria from crowded areas. Bacteria that are not properly removed will multiply and trigger gum or periodontal disease which begins as gum inflammation, redness and bleeding while brushing and flossing. If left untreated over time gum information will progress to chronic infection, soft tissue damage, receding gums, periodontal pockets, bone loss and eventually tooth loss.
These conditions can lead to painful repair and maintenance in the future, which could amount to thousands of dollars or naira in expenses and countless hours in the dentist’s chair and clinic. Problems in the oral cavity are best treated in the early stages i.e as a child or teenager. Crooked teeth that are left untreated will eventually trap bacteria that damage gum tissue cells and invade blood vessels which can cause damage to cells that line the coronary arteries increasing your risk for heart disease, stroke and other illnesses.
Having a good smile can do a lot for your self-esteem and confidence, which is why it’s important to take care of your teeth. A well-aligned set of teeth will make you feel more attractive and confident overall. This is especially true if you are trying to get a new job or keep the one that you already have. A great smile can help you stand out from all other candidates in interviews and presentations, which makes getting hired easier! If there is something that seems like something is missing from this equation—like missing teeth—then it might be time for some dental work so that everything looks right on paper as well as physically in person (or even online).
As you’ll learn in this section, having well-aligned teeth can help improve your overall health and quality of life.
- Improved oral health: Properly aligned teeth are easier to brush, floss, and clean. Plus, it’s less likely that bacteria will enter the body through your gums or tongue.
- Improved digestion: When the jaw moves in a way that allows for proper chewing movements, food then passes through easily with no clogging or grinding down of teeth enamel (an important factor for keeping teeth healthy).
- In addition, good oral hygiene habits are key here as well, such as brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. It is also important to avoid eating crunchy foods that might cause pain if they’re lodged between two sharp edges on one side of your mouth while others are still available!
A great smile can make you both look and feel better. It will boost your self-esteem, helping to relieve stress and anxiety. It will also help you to be more successful in life, as it boosts confidence and makes people more likely to trust you. A well-aligned tooth is also an indicator of good health; if people see a gap between their teeth, they may assume that the person has gum disease or other dental problems that could lead to serious health issues such as heart disease or diabetes later in life.
Correctly positioning your teeth for proper alignment and function will help prevent future dental problems and make a significant difference toward a healthy mouth and keeping your teeth alive.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the importance of dental alignment and how it can affect your health. We also encourage you to schedule an appointment with us today so that we can help get your smile in tip-top shape!
