At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we believe that everyone would like to have a naturally-aligned, beautiful smile, if only for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. However, there are even greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth. You’ll gain many oral health benefits in addition to the obvious cosmetic ones.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Crooked (misaligned) or crowded teeth may overlap each other and create tight spaces in between. These crooked or crowded teeth can make it very difficult to brush and floss effectively, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up, and eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease (gingivititis). With orthodontic treatment, your teeth will become properly aligned and spaced, allowing for more effective brushing and flossing.
Speech Difficulties
Believe it or not, your teeth play an important role in your speech. When teeth are out of line, or jut too far forward or backward, this can affect your speech patterns, and possibly cause you embarrassment and frustration. Braces can readjust the positioning of the teeth to allow for clearer, more professional speaking.
Jawbone Erosion
The jawbone and gum tissues can start to erode when there are no teeth to support. This is also true for poorly-aligned teeth that leave gaps and spaces, or place too much pressure on the jawbone due to a bad bite. After treatment with braces, the jawbone and tissues are less likely to erode and can continue to support the teeth in their new alignment.
Digestion
Your teeth play an important role in digestion. Before food ever enters your stomach, it has been partially digested by the teeth. If teeth are severely out of line, however, they may not perform their function in breaking down food as effectively as they should. With braces, your teeth will be straightened into optimal alignment for proper eating and chewing, thereby aiding in the digestion process.
Dr. Horner and Dr. Barrow and the staff at Horner Barrow Orthodontics would be happy to answer any of your questions about your orthodontic treatment. Call or visit our Sioux Falls, SD office today!