When you meet someone new, one of the first things they notice is your smile. When you’re not happy with the appearance of that smile, your confidence and self esteem can be affected, causing you to shy away from new, exciting opportunities in your personal or professional life.

We all grow up seeing advertisements that feature people eating, drinking and laughing through a mouth filled with bright, white, straight teeth. They look beautiful, but there are more benefits to straight teeth than just their appearance.

Here are some health benefits of straight teeth as shared by a general dentist in Windsor:

1. Self confidence.

When you’re confident with the way you look, you’re more likely to take chances in your personal and professional life. Those opportunities could include presenting at a conference or introducing yourself to the brilliant person ahead of you in line at the cafe. Either way, you miss all the shots you don’t take, and if you’re self-conscious to take chances because of your crooked teeth, it’s time to consider having them straightened.

2. Longevity.

We all want to keep our natural teeth as long as possible, and straight teeth just last longer. Eating, chewing, grinding and clenching all produce a lot of pressure on the teeth, and when your teeth are properly aligned they are better able to withstand this force. Plus, straight teeth are easier to clean making brushing, flossing and professional treatments more effective, which will also help you keep your natural teeth in prime condition.

3. Less jaw pain.

A misaligned bite can be tough on your jaw, which is connected to your skull by temporal modular joints. A crooked bite puts strain on these joints which can cause pain and discomfort in the head, neck and jaw. Think chronic headaches, neck pain, and a sore, aching jaw.

4. Disease prevention.

Straight teeth are easier to clean, so for people with straight teeth, a home-based oral hygiene routine is more effective at removing all the plaque buildup that can lead to gum disease and eventually periodontitis down the road than it would be for a person with crooked teeth.

Dental technologies have come a long way and straightening your teeth doesn’t no longer means walking around with a mouth full of shiny metal. There are many tooth straightening options that will correct your misalignment without shouting your treatment from the rooftop.

We offer many orthodontic treatment options, including Invisalign – a system that gently guides the teeth back into place using a series of nearly-invisible aligners that can be removed for eating, drinking and cleaning.

If you’re ready to do something about your misaligned bite, call Dr. Dan Foresto in Windsor and team to schedule an appointment today. We’ll assess the current condition of your bite and work with you to find a treatment plan that meets your needs.