When thinking about undertaking orthodontic treatment it is easy to focus on the cosmetic benefits of having straight teeth but are there other benefits that we can get from having braces?  A quick search revealed quite a few.

Healthier gums – gum disease can result in early tooth loss and other health issues and having properly spaced teeth can make oral hygiene easier leading to less problems.

Prevents tooth wear – misaligned or crooked teeth can wear down faster particularly if they are rubbing against other teeth or interfering with your bite.

It’s easier to clean your teeth – overlapping or crowded teeth are harder to clean which can result in decay or gum disease but when your teeth are straight they are far easier to brush and floss.

Decreases risk of tooth or gum injury – some teeth that stick out might be of greater risk of getting damaged if you have an accident.

Improves self confidence and esteem – so many people report that before getting braces they avoided smiling or having their photo taken and following orthodontic treatment feel so much happier in themselves which has benefited their relationships with others.

Fewer headaches and reduced pain – a poor bite can put stress on your jaw and this is frequently felt through pain and increased occurrence of headaches.

Improved overall health – much research is being conducted into the relationship between oral health and overall health with links to diseases such as heart disease now being explored.

Better digestion – a poor bite can make eating difficult or uncomfortable resulting in indigestion or a limited range of foods being consumed.

Clearer speech – misaligned teeth can make it difficult to pronounce certain words which can lead some people to feel less confident.

Improved appearance – we all like to feel good about ourselves and our smile is one of the first things people notice about us.  Our overall face shape can also change during orthodontics as our bite improves leading people to report looking younger too!

Living longer – I read an article that people with gum disease are 24-35% more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease and a contributing factor to gum disease is not being able to properly clean and floss your teeth.

Improved perceptions – a study has been conducted which scored people based on their teeth and it was found that the results indicated we perceive people with straight teeth to have more desirable qualities than those with crooked teeth, including attributes such as being happy, surrounded by loved ones, and professionally successful.

Making a better first impression – many people notice your smile and perceive positive benefits from having clean and straight teeth

Improved dating prospects – with a number of dating sites now using photographs as the primary means of selecting possible suitable matches, having a great smile can increase your prospects of meeting someone.

I think the above list presents fairly compelling reasons for wanting to get your teeth straightened but if you can think of any others, just let me know.

Image: © sergiophoto / Fotolia