The obvious benefits of braces include having straighter teeth and a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Having a better smile can do wonders for self-esteem and positive self-image, which is a huge benefit for children and adults alike. Many people see this as the main purpose of getting braces.
But aesthetics isn’t the only reason you should fix poorly aligned teeth. Did you know that there are considerable health benefits of braces as well? Many people are surprised to learn that a badly aligned bite or crowded teeth can lead to many types of health problems, such as headaches, jaw pain, tooth grinding and damage, gum disease, and general bodily inflammation! Having straighter teeth makes it much easier to care for them with brushing and flossing. Misaligned teeth often have more food buildup which can lead to an increase in plaque. Proper oral hygiene makes for healthier teeth and gums – which means you’re less likely to get cavities and periodontal disease!
Poorly aligned teeth and jaws (malocclusion) can also cause tooth grinding – a problem that many people deal with. A “bad bite” can also lead to digestion problems, TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), chronic headaches or even back and neck pain! Getting braces to straighten the teeth can help alleviate and prevent these issues.
In addition to feeling confident about your smile, having straight teeth can help some people eat food more effectively. Poorly aligned teeth can cause difficulty with biting and chewing food – which may result in digestion or nutrition issues, as well as pain or discomfort while eating. Straightening the teeth can result in major improvements in eating issues.
The other benefit of having straight teeth is that they’re less prone to injury. If you have protruding upper teeth, they’re more likely to be broken or traumatized in an accident or while playing sports. Having an irregular bite pattern means you could experience uneven stress and impact on specific teeth, and those teeth may wear more rapidly than others. This could lead to premature dental problems. Getting braces to properly align the teeth will decrease that risk.
So if you’re considering braces, don’t forget that a beautiful smile isn’t the only thing you’ll get! The health benefits of braces are just as important.
Are you ready to begin your journey to a beautiful, healthier smile? Click HERE to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION with Molen Orthodontics.
I never would have guessed that having braces could be so beneficial. Thank you for explaining that “Having a better smile can do wonders for self-esteem and positive self-image, which is a huge benefit for children and adults alike.” I have never had problems with my teeth before but I can imagine how helpful braces can be when it comes to having straight teeth.
Thank you for your comment!
I didn’t realize that poorly aligned teeth could cause headaches and jaw problems, along with other health issues. I think the best benefit is a great looking smile, but it is certainly a health benefit as well. I will have to look into getting my kids some braces soon.
I had never considered how many ways braces could effect your oral health. I guess that I hadn’t really considered the many ways that having straight teeth could benefit your health, or even your safety. I never had braces as a child cause I never cared much about the aesthetic benefits, but knowing the health benefits makes braces a lot more appealing. I’ll have to talk to an orthodontist to see if braces could still be a good option for me. Thanks for the info!
I didn’t realize that my crooked teeth could cause more than just aesthetic problems. I do suffer from headaches a lot, and I wonder if that is the cause. I think I will need to talk to my dentist about getting braces. Do adults usually need to wear braces longer than teenagers to get things straightened out?
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that orthodontic treatment can benefits your health. I’ve always thought of having straight teeth as a purely aesthetic thing, but I hadn’t considered that it could make caring for your teeth easier. With that in mind, I’ll definitely look into having orthodontic treatment so I can prevent the dental problems that come with crowded teeth. Thanks for the great post!
I like how you mentioned that having straight teeth can do wonders for self-esteem. My son just entered middle school, and he’s at that age where he’s really insecure and has low self-esteem. I think part of that is due to his crooked teeth, so maybe it would be a good idea to get him braces so he can improve his smile and hopefully his confidence.
My son’s teeth are somewhat misaligned, and I was wondering if he could benefit from braces. I didn’t realize that misaligned teeth could cause so many problems in the future! There’s also the obvious cosmetic benefits of having aligned teeth. I’ll make sure that I find a good professional to help him out.
The benefit of braces indeed goes beyond esthetics. Straight teeth has a lot of functional significance apart from good appearance. Thank you for this magnificent feature article about braces.
hello Amy Bickler, I am really appreciated from yours. hopefully, on every article, there are full of info. that will help me a lot.