We use our teeth all the time but we rarely think about them. However, a healthy brushing/flossing routine combined with regular dentist visits is the classical advice on how to preserve your pearly whites. Even if you don’t think about it, taking care of your teeth is essential to preventing problems down the line. But how does one go about correcting other defects in your teeth? A visit to your local orthodontist for braces or other treatment is usually the solution.

After all, modern orthodontists help correct jaw problems, alignment issues, and other oral problems. Here are some of the tops reasons why wearing braces goes beyond just having teeth that look perfect. There are many more benefits to braces that your orthodontist would be only too glad to tell you about should you ask. Braces are not merely cosmetic, and can be an oral game changer for some people.

Improve Hygiene Habits

Believe it or not, having straighter teeth makes them easier to clean and care for. When teeth are not crowded and overlapped, there are simply fewer places for tartar and plaque to hide out and wreak havoc on your mouth (this includes bad breath). This, in turn, will improve your overall hygiene habits and help your mouth to be in tip-top shape no matter where life goes.

Correct a Misaligned Bite

Any orthodontist worth their salt will be able to tell you that having quality braces will help correct misaligned bites. But why is this so important? Properly aligning an overbite, underbite, or crossbite can help prevent problems such as unnecessary wear and tear on the surfaces of teeth. In extreme cases, it can help prevent tooth loss caused by friction and improper chewing.

Keep Long-Term Oral Health

By straightening your teeth and allowing for improved hygiene habits, you’ll also allow better brushing and flossing to occur. Far from preventing bad breath, this will make sure that plaque and tartar don’t build up to the point that you experience gingivitis, periodontitis, or other oral issues and have bone loss or other issues around your teeth, which can be costly and painful to fix.

Digestive Issues Corrected

When your teeth aren’t in order, or you have a jaw alignment issues, this can cause many people to opt for softer or unhealthy foods to avoid pain. If you’ve ever been on an unhealthy diet, then you know that over time, these foods can cause you to have digestive and health issues. By correcting your teeth and eating the proper foods, you can be on your way to a more physically healthy version of yourself.

Boost Mood and Heighten Self-Confidence

Did you know that many people who receive braces and correct their teeth report having an improved mood and boosted self-confidence? Similar to losing weight or getting new clothing, having your teeth straightened leads many people to become the “best version of themselves” with all the consequences that spring from it. From better relationships to a new job, who knows where this could take you?

The Power Of A Smile

In the end, braces are about more than just straightening teeth. They are about creating a smile that is completely unique to an individual. The question is, what is the value of a smile? To many people, it is simply priceless. Far from simply conveying happiness or a jovial mood, a smile has the possibility to enchant people and form relationships, lift someone out of a bad mood, or simply provide a friend when no one else is around. When you want to improve your smile, rely on Dr. Bret Ortho as the orthodontist you can trust.