The Health Benefits of Straighter Teeth
If you’ve been thinking about straightening your teeth, there’s more to consider than your smile. That’s because better tooth alignment does far more than improve your appearance and confidence — and now it’s easier to straighten your teeth than you think.
The Dental Touch team relies on the Invisalign® system at our office in Oakland, California. It has straightened more than 12 million smiles worldwide, but you can’t beat the added health benefits it brings with it.
Considering teeth straightening? Here’s why you shouldn’t wait.
Straighter teeth mean better health
It’s easy to focus entirely on your smile when thinking about your tooth alignment. However, your teeth have work to do that goes far beyond smiling. And, when they don’t fit together correctly, it interferes with how they function.
To start, you have individual teeth, but they work as a unit, each one providing support for the other. When your teeth are crowded, crooked, protruding, or out of alignment, it can lead to a variety of issues, such as:
- Tooth damage or chipping
- Problems chewing or speaking
- Jawbone and joint problems, like TMJ
- Headaches and migraines
- Sleep apnea
While these are all important issues and good reasons to straighten your teeth, there’s another big consideration — and it involves your entire health: gum disease
Gum disease and your health
Gum disease develops when a bacterial infection develops in your mouth because of plaque and tartar buildup. However, it doesn’t stay there. Instead, it passes through the infected gum tissue and travels to other parts of your body, putting you at risk of numerous health conditions, such as:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Respiratory disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Heart disease
- Certain cancers
Fortunately, gum disease is highly preventable, and it all starts with good dental hygiene. And, when you have straighter teeth, it’s just easier to keep them clean. Having fewer hard-to-reach places for plaque to hide and build up, which increases your risk of tooth decay, gum inflammation, and ultimately gum disease.
Straighten your teeth with Invisalign
Invisalign offers a barely visible teeth straightening solution that provides proven results up to 50% faster. They can resolve most alignment issues comfortably, conveniently, and discreetly so you can improve your smile and your overall health at the same time.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign gently moves your teeth into their ideal position with clear aligner trays. Simply wear each tray for 20-22 hours each day and shift every week or two to the next aligner in your treatment plan.
Invisalign aligners also protect your oral health while you’re improving it. Not only do you remove them to eat or drink, but you take them out to brush and floss — making it easier to keep your mouth clean than do "permanent" orthodontic systems like braces.
It all starts with a dental exam to ensure Invisalign is right for you. We can also take digital scans of your mouth to create 3D images so we can show you exactly how your smile could improve. Our team uses these scans to outline your personalized treatment option and create the custom plastic aligners you wear to straighten your teeth.
Conclusion
Are you ready to get the health benefits of straighter teeth? Contact The Dental Touch to see if Invisalign is right for you by calling 510-658-0110 or schedule an appointment today.
