subject: The Lesser Known Benefits Of Braces [print this page] Braces are a tool used by orthodontists to create straight teeth and attractive smiles. Orthodontia is an area of dentistry that repositions jaws, and fixes bite issues, and eliminates crowding and crooked teeth. Crooked or crowded teeth can make people feel self-conscious about smiling and thus hurt self-esteem. While braces are used to straighten teeth, there are also lesser known benefits of braces that people are sometimes not aware of. Braces can correct bite issues, prevent gum disease and cavities, as well as improve facial structure and speech.
Oral Hygiene
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean and healthy. Once the braces are removed and teeth are nice and straight, they do not collect as much plaque. This means that there is a lower risk of periodontal disease.
When plaque does accumulate on straight teeth, its far easier to remove that plaque by brushing and flossing. This also results in fewer cavities. It is also easier for dentists to fill cavities and put crowns on teeth when they are aligned well.
Speech
A lesser known benefit of getting braces is that they can correct an open bite. This can substantially improve speech issues. In general, braces help the jaw and teeth work more effectively. In an open bite, the structure of the jaw is not as it should be. Sometimes surgery is necessary to correct the open jaw. In many cases, an open bite can be treated with braces alone.
Facial Structure
Overbites and underbites are fairly common conditions of the jaw and can result in a myriad of dental health issues. In an overbite, there is typically a sizeable gap between the upper teeth and the bottom teeth. Sometimes the top teeth actually protrude and are sometimes referred to as buck teeth. Underbites have the opposite issue. The bottom jaw juts out and the bottom teeth overlap the top teeth. Those that get braces to treat underbites and overbites may experience a substantial change in facial structure.
Pain
When suffering from bite issues and other jaw abnormalities, there can be pain as your teeth strike down incorrectly. This can lead to damage of the tooth enamel. For some, it can even lead to teeth breakage and gum disease. Both gum disease and broken teeth can be very painful. Braces are an excellent took for fixing those jaw abnormalities and thus preventing and treating pain associated with these conditions.
