Crooked teeth are more than a cosmetic issue; they can affect the status of your oral health too. The next time you think you are vain for wanting straight teeth, consider it a gift for your oral health. With straight teeth, you are able to have cleaner teeth which means less tooth decay, gum disease, and better overall health.
Tooth Decay
If your teeth overlap one another, it is difficult to keep them clean. Even if you brush and floss regularly, you might not be getting them as clean as you think. This could lead to cavities down the road. This occurs when the bacteria that hides on your teeth is not removed, which may not be your fault. It can get caught in the nooks and crannies of your crooked teeth. Over time, this bacteria combines with the acids and sugars in the foods that you consume and begin to eat away at the enamel of your teeth, causing tooth decay.
Gum Disease
The same reasons that you can get tooth decay apply to the risk of gum disease. Crooked teeth, whether they are overcrowded or just not perfectly aligned, can cause gum irritations because the plaque and bacteria are left to sit on your gums. Because gum disease is not easily detected in its earliest stages, you typically will not know you have it unless we tell you at your visit or you begin to have swollen or bleeding gums, which sometimes does not occur until the later stages of the disease. Straight teeth naturally lead to healthier gums that help fight against the risk of this disease.
Overall Health
Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body. If you have serious oral health issues, such as decay, gum disease, or oral cancer, it can affect the rest of your body in a negative way. Gum disease can cause heart disease, stroke, complications with diabetes, and respiratory issues. Oral cancer can spread to other areas of your body, putting your life at risk. Containing these diseases or preventing them from occurring in the first place is reliant on the alignment of your teeth – the straighter your teeth, the less likely it is that you will suffer from illnesses such as these.
If you are worried about the status of your oral health, come in for an appointment. We can help you determine the necessary steps to ensure that your teeth are properly aligned and your oral health is in good condition.
