20% of patients with braces are adults. The whole world wanted to join in once the benefits of orthodontics for children became widely known.
Teeth are a noticeable physical feature, so many forms of orthodontic treatment are purely aesthetic. This is still worth the effort because of how much it can improve your self-confidence.
Orthodontic treatment, including braces and straightening methods, also improves your overall health. They prevent a range of diseases, make it easier to clean your teeth, digest your food, get enough rest, and more.
Read on for 7 benefits of orthodontic treatment for patients of any age.
1. Improved Self-Confidence
Over 1/3 of Americans are unsatisfied with their smile. 36% believe that improving it would improve their social life, and 22% believe it would improve their love life.
Orthodontic treatment straightens and aligns your teeth. It’s important for anyone who doesn’t like the way their smile looks but essential for children and teens who’ve been teased about their mouth.
Braces may be considered unattractive by some patients, but there are plenty of other options available today. They include clear braces and invisible aligners that aren’t as noticeable as traditional wires.
2. Preventing Diseases
Braces are the first thing you may think of when you ask yourself “what is orthodontic treatment?” While it’s a crucial component, it’s only one aesthetic option. Other alternatives include surgery, alignments in the office, and more.
Creating a full orthodontic treatment meaning requires combining anything that improves the alignment of your teeth and jaw. They all fall under the same category. Many are purely aesthetic, many more improve the health of your mouth and your body as a whole.
A comprehensive orthodontic treatment plan uses all available methods to prevent a range of issues. These could include:
- Poor occlusion
- Crooked teeth
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Tooth wear and tear
- Bad breath
Orthodontists can also help treat and prevent other conditions caused by poor oral health, including diabetes, pregnancy complications, heart disease, and immune system issues.
Orthodontic treatment helps your teeth but is essential for the health of your jaw. It can prevent pain and infection in the area as well as TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome.
This condition affects 10-35 million Americans. 2 of the most common causes are crooked teeth and teeth grinding. It’s a major issue for the bones around your mouth but can also affect your teeth and cause them to chip or suffer wear and tear.
An orthodontist can relax the muscles and tendons in your jaw to bring them back to their natural position. This will relieve any pain you may be experiencing and keep the TMJ from coming back.
3. Better Oral Hygiene
Regular general dentistry appointments are essential to your oral health, but finding the best orthodontist will improve it even more. They’re able to discover issues that your dentist may miss or be unequipped to treat.
Children should begin seeing an orthodontist when they’re at least 7 years old. Early orthodontic treatment helps them develop a proper oral hygiene routine. They’re less likely to stray from these recommendations as a teen or adult, leading to a lifetime of improved oral health.
Orthodontic treatment can improve your oral health at any age.
Misaligned teeth have more crevices to clean, many of which are difficult to reach. Severe crowding causes issues such as decay, gum disease, and erosion. It’s easier to clean and floss your teeth when they’re straight. This prevents a buildup of plaque, bacteria, and other issues that can cause problems in your mouth.
4. Better Eating and Digestion
Problems with eating and digestion aren’t always caused by internal organ issues such as IBS or Chrons. Similar problems often begin in the mouth.
Misaligned teeth can cause an improper bite. This may make it difficult to swallow or chew anything that has any sort of toughness such as meat or vegetables. You may struggle to get the nutrients that your body needs.
Orthodontic treatment allows you to eat what you want without as much pain. Properly chewed food is also easier for the body to digest.
5. Improved Speech
Speech issues are another problem that doesn’t always make patients rush to the orthodontist for treatment. They have a range of mental explanations, but they also often start in the mouth.
Misalignment of the teeth or jaw can lead to speech issues such as a slur, lisp, or difficulty pronouncing certain letters.
This is another example of a time when early orthodontic treatment is essential. The sooner you get your child or teenager in to have their teeth realigned, the sooner they’ll be able to get rid of the speech issues they may have been teased for.
6. Reduced Headaches and Neck and Shoulder Pain
Misaligned or crooked teeth can create tension in your muscles. Problems with the jaw are also a frequent cause of headaches because the bones it contains are so close to the head.
Orthodontic treatment can provide relief for all of these types of pain. It can realign your jaw or fix your teeth to reduce the strain on the rest of your body.
7. Better Sleep
Obstructive sleep apnea affects 2-9% of adults. It’s a dangerous but common issue that causes you to stop breathing for a short amount of time while you’re sleeping.
Certain issues with the mouth can aggravate the condition, including a misaligned jaw or teeth grinding. An orthodontist can help diagnose the condition, and orthodontic treatment can treat and prevent these problems.
More Orthodontic Treatment Tips
Orthodontics are now recognized as a useful treatment for patients of any age. Their benefits are numerous and extend beyond having an attractive smile.
Orthodontists are specially trained to prevent issues that arise from misalignment of the teeth or jaw. They can also teach children and adults how to take care of their teeth. They can also improve problems with speech, digestion, and shoulder pain or headaches.
The best thing that you can do is have both a talented dentist and orthodontist for the benefits of their specialized knowledge.
Read the rest of our content for more dental health tips.
Read more: Tooth Decay: What to Do To Prevent Cavities?
