How Orthodontics are Able to Improve Overall Health
When we think about orthodontics, we often think about the desire for a straight, beautiful smile. And while this goal can be met through the use of orthodontic treatment, it can help you achieve even more than that. For example, orthodontic treatment can improve your speech and bite by aligning your teeth correctly and, in recent years, it’s even been found that orthodontic treatment has been linked with your overall health.
For a long time, we’ve known that mouth issues such as gum disease can have a very negative impact on your overall health. So, it’s not surprising that we’re finding even more links between oral and overall health.
Below are a few of the associations between orthodontic health and overall health:
- Oral bacteria can infect the arterial cells in your heart and weaken the walls of the heart.
- Women who suffer from gum disease are more likely to have preterm babies.
- Loose teeth are a warning sign of osteoporosis, which weakens the bones.
- Oral inflammation and swelling have been linked to clogged arteries.
Gum Disease & Orthodontics
Now that we’ve established the link between gum disease and health problems, what do orthodontics have to do with anything? Put simply, it’s easier to clean and care for straight teeth than it is crooked teeth. When your teeth are in a straight line, there are fewer nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide. Brushing and flossing are able to remove much more debris in straightened teeth, lowering the risk for gum disease.