Braces are designed to produce beautiful, straight teeth—but did you know the other health benefits of braces?
Help to reduce breathing, snoring, ear or sinus issues
If your jaw is misaligned, or your teeth are too crowded, braces can surely help! Your dentist at Fioritto Family Dental may recommend widening your palate. To widen the palate, an expander is placed before braces are applied.
Since undersized palates can cause breathing difficulties, snoring, ear and sinus issues, you may notice these improve as the palate expands. Plus, you’ll enjoy the aesthetic benefits of perfectly aligned teeth, and the comfort of a properly aligned jaw.
Improves your bite—and digestion
Your “bite” is the dental term for how your upper and lower teeth fit together. When your bite isn’t aligned properly, you may have trouble chewing food—and if you don’t break down the food properly, you may have issues with digestion. Additionally, a poorly aligned bite may become painful, since you have to work harder to chew. People with misaligned jaws may also suffer from lockjaw, TMJ or headaches.
Braces improve your bite, and in turn, can improve your digestion. If you’re suffering with chewing difficulty, talk to your dentist to see whether or not braces may be right for you. The sooner you address these health issues, the better.
Require impeccable dental care
When your teeth are overcrowded or misaligned, it can be difficult to keep your mouth clean. If floss and toothbrush bristles cannot fit between your teeth, it’s impossible to remove all the food debris and bacteria lurking in your mouth. This in turn, may cause bad breath, gum disease and cavities.
Wearing braces not only solves tooth alignment and spacing issues, they also necessitate impeccable oral health habits. When you have braces, you’ll need to spend extra time cleaning your teeth—plus the brackets and wires atop your teeth. Your new brushing, flossing and mouthwash habits will follow you long after the braces come off. Not only will your smile be flawless, but your oral health will be too!
Greater confidence
Finally, there is a mental health benefit to wearing braces— greater confidence! Crooked teeth and other dental issues can discourage people from smiling, socializing, or improving their career path. That’s because people fear they’ll be judged poorly because of their teeth. In contrast, when you feel good about your smile, your confidence significantly improves, and you are less self-conscious. You’ll find it much easier to go out and conquer the world—or at least share a laugh with your friends or colleagues.
Fioritto Family dentists are always happy to answer your questions about the benefits of braces. Call us today to schedule an appointment!