When people think of the word “braces” in relation to teeth, they tend to see only the cosmetic side that orthodontics is known for. Bright, wide smiles that help people light up whatever room they walk into. Having a great smile is nothing to laugh at, considering that first impressions are so important in our world and can make or break certain relationships. But braces are a good investment for more than just cosmetic reasons.
Yes, it’s true that braces installed by a competent orthodontist help you achieve straight teeth, but they can actually be even more helpful than that. Braces, when working in tandem with good oral hygiene and catching problems early, can help prevent an entire host of health problems. This is worth the investment in braces itself, and a good smile is almost a pleasant side effect.
Today we’d like to talk about the reasons why traditional metal braces are still a great investment for you and your family. Whether you are seeking a great smile or trying to correct an overbite, braces can fix these problems and more. By closing the gaps between teeth and allowing you to clean them better, braces may also prevent emergency trips to the dentist. In this way, braces truly are multi-functional and amazing.
Stop Tooth Decay from Occurring
As we just mentioned, when teeth are crooked or overlapped, they have a tendency to collect stray food and develop tartar or plaque. This, in turn, with cause tooth decay in time if it is not corrected. It is a well-known problem to dentists, who will calmly state that by the time they reach age 65 up to 96% of Americans have some form of tooth decay. Therefore, by straightening the teeth and making them easier to clean, you can help get rid of this plaque before it becomes a problem and save yourself money down the road.
Prevent Heart Disease
In a similar vein to the tooth decay problem, orthodontics doesn’t get enough credit for helping to prevent heart disease in a number of people. By straightening the teeth and preventing tartar deposits from hardening, the gums will be less likely to become inflamed or receive bacterial infections into the body. This, in turn, can prevent heart disease from starting at an unlikely place: the mouth and gums, before traveling to and hurting the heart.
Address Other Health Problems
Many lesser-known problems, such as TMJ, tension headaches, speech problems, or chewing problems can be solved by competent orthodontics. By straightening the teeth and aligning the jaw, many people stop clenching and causing themselves excess tension in their jaw and neck. Speech problems such as whistling or lisps can also be mitigated (if not eliminated) and chewing in a sideways or lopsided fashion can also be corrected. These may seem like tiny problems but fixing them can make a BIG difference in many people’s lives toward a higher quality of health.
Get A Boost of Confidence
One of the most reported effects of braces is the boost of confidence that having “corrected” and straight teeth gives people. Aside from all the health problems it can solve and cosmetic wonder it brings, it just makes people feel good. When they feel like their teeth are no longer out of alignment, strange, or misshapen in some way, they feel better about themselves in their bodies. The major boost of self-confidence can work wonders in their personal and professional lives, leading people to reach new heights that they never thought were possible.
Braces Truly Are A Great Investment
So there you have it. At the end of the day, adult braces really are a wonderful investment for your health, wealth, and overall wellbeing. The field of orthodontics has improved and grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, and there are more competent orthodontists than ever who are only too happy to help you along in your braces journey. We hope that after seeing all of the ancillary benefits that braces can provide, you’ll be willing to take those next steps toward improving your current health and preventing problems in the future. After all, when the main side effect of these treatments is a wonderfully straight smile, who could bear to disagree with that?