Invest in your long-term oral health with orthodontic treatment.

When you look in the mirror, do you ever wonder how your smile might look with straighter teeth? Orthodontic treatment is a versatile field of dentistry that can not only help you get the straight smile you dream of but also alleviate oral health issues and prevent future problems from forming.

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just about straight teeth or dental cosmetics.

The most obvious advantage of orthodontic treatment is aesthetics. Post-treatment, your smile will be well balanced with straight teeth and proper spacing.

Pursuing orthodontic treatment purely for cosmetic benefits is very common and certainly more than a good enough reason to invest in straightening your teeth. After all, having a great smile you’re proud to share will make you feel confident and happy, even leading to greater success in work and relationships.

However, if you’re hesitant to get orthodontic treatment because you’re unsure about investing in something cosmetic, consider the significant oral health benefits.

Orthodontic treatment supports long-term optimal oral health.

A straight smile isn’t just an attractive smile, it’s also a healthier one. That doesn’t mean you must straighten your teeth to achieve optimal oral health, but it does mean it’s easier to care for and clean straight teeth.

Straight, evenly spaced teeth are easier to brush and floss.

Crowded and crooked teeth can be especially tough to floss, either with spacing being so tight you can’t fit the floss in between or tilted in a way that your floss gets stuck.

Brushing can also be a challenge, though you may not realize it right away. The same crowding and misalignment issues that cause trouble for flossing are also likely hiding bits of food and plaque that your toothbrush simply can’t reach.

Your brushing and flossing efforts will be much more effective if your teeth are straight with proper spacing in between. The better you’re able to care for your teeth at home, the less likely you are to develop tooth decay.

Plaque doesn’t build up on straight teeth as easily.

Plaque tends to stick within the nooks and crannies in your smile rather than on the smooth surfaces of your teeth. When your teeth are crooked, tilted, and crowded, there are more of these nooks and crannies within your smile.

Plaque buildup not only leads to tooth decay, but it’s also the primary cause of gum disease. Plaque irritates the gum tissue, causing gingivitis (gum inflammation) and, without treatment, eventual periodontitis.

After orthodontic treatment, your teeth will naturally be less prone to developing plaque buildup. With a great at-home dental care routine and regular professional cleanings, you can enjoy a smile free of tooth decay and gum disease.

Properly positioned teeth stimulate healthy bone structure.

Orthodontic treatment greatly benefits an aspect of your oral health you can’t really see: your jawbone. Each tooth plays an important role in the health of your jawbone, and they all rely on one another for support. When the teeth aren’t straight, it can cause misalignment with your bite or the way your teeth meet. Underbites and overbites are common examples.

When you have a misaligned bite, you can have a tough time chewing or speaking. You may even experience TMD (temporomandibular disorder), such as TMJ and the pain, headaches, and jaw soreness associated with it.

Orthodontic treatment readjusts each tooth, helping to reposition your bite so your teeth are well aligned and meet one another perfectly.

Clear aligners offer additional benefits during treatment.

Many teens and adults gravitate toward Invisalign for its subtlety. If you find yourself in agreement, you’ll be happy to know that clean aligners systems, like Invisalign and Six Month Smiles, have a few benefits of their own.

Going back to the first advantage of teeth being easier to clean, clean aligners make oral health easier to maintain right off the bat. Traditional braces can be tricky to brush around and floss, but clean aligners are simply removed for oral care, eating, and drinking (water is OK). This advantage means you can start investing in a great at-home oral care regimen right away. You might even choose to also have your teeth professionally whitened too!

Clear aligners can also help protect your teeth from grinding known as bruxism. Misaligned teeth can make nightly bruxism a habit. Clean aligners will offer some protection to your teeth during treatment, and gradually, your jaw muscles will be  retrained to naturally relax.

Discover how orthodontic treatment can benefit your unique smile by booking a consultation with Ada Smile Place.

If you’re interested in learning more about orthodontic treatment and its benefits, the first step is to schedule a consultation with the Ada Smile Place team.

During your consultation, your dentist will evaluate your current oral health, including which areas of your smile can be remedied with orthodontic treatment. You’ll also find out which form of orthodontic treatment is best suited to meet your smile goals and what you can expect from your treatment timeline.

When you’re ready to schedule a consultation, you can either call our office or fill out this easy online form.