Everyone wants a naturally aligned and beautiful smile, and it is no secret that orthodontic braces can help deliver one. However, there are greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth. You’ll gain many benefits in addition to just the cosmetic improvements.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

If you have crooked or crowded teeth, they may overlap each other and create tight spaces in between.

These can make it very difficult to brush and floss effectively, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up, and eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment, your teeth will become properly aligned and spaced, which allows for more effective brushing.

This in turn means that you’ll be less prone to suffering from tooth decay and gum disease because when you brush your teeth, you’ll be able to clean them more effectively with less effort.

Difficulties with Speech

Most people don’t realise that their teeth play an essential role in their ability to speak.

When they are out of line or lean too far forward or backward, this can affect your speaking patterns, which can cause embarrassment and frustration.

There are greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth.

Braces adjust the positioning of the teeth which makes it easier to pronounce words more clearly.

Digestion

Your teeth play an important role in digestion of the food you eat.

Before food ever enters your stomach, it has been partially digested by the teeth due to the act of chewing before it is swallowed.

If teeth are severely out of line, they may not play their role in breaking down food as effectively as they should.

This means that your digestive system has to work harder in order to fully break down the food you’re eating.

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into their optimal alignment for which also improves your ability to chew and eat.

Confidence

Most of what we’ve discussed so far has related primarily to the physical issues which relate to having crooked teeth.

But what about the emotional considerations?

If you had trouble speaking would that be frustrating?

Would you feel embarassed if you had ongoing digestion issues?

How do you feel when you smile? Is it awkward because you’re not comfortable about how your smile looks?

Do you often find yourself covering your mouth when you smile or laugh?

Aside from the physical changes from orthodontic treatment, the emotional changes are in many ways just as important.

Studies have shown that people with straight teeth have more confidence, and are often more successful due to the perceptions of others around them.

And that’s not just for adults.

Kids experience significant improvements in their confidence and self-esteem when they have straight teeth which is an important foundation for their emotional development.

Conclusion

It’s easy to get fixated on the cosmetic improvements associated with having braces because that’s the part we notice first.

But in reality the emotional improvements can be just as significant for our long term wellbeing.