Crooked teeth aren’t just an aesthetic problem. Crooked teeth may prevent you from speaking and smiling confidently, and that can certainly have negative side effects. However, there is a far more direct health risk associated with crooked teeth. The fact is that crooked teeth are much harder to clean. Crowding in certain areas can make it nearly impossible to floss and brush properly. Over time that means people with crooked teeth are much more likely to suffer the effects of tooth decay and gum disease.

Braces as Health Care

When your orthodontist in Cerritos suggests using braces or another orthodontic tool to help straighten your teeth their concerns are medical. Straight teeth are much easier to clean with a conventional toothbrush. Straight teeth also provide the space necessary for conventional floss, which is more taxing but also more effective than other methods. By giving you an improved canvas for your daily oral hygiene your orthodontist hopes to save you from serious oral diseases down the line.

Health Risks of Crooked Teeth

When we talk about tooth decay and gum disease, it’s surprisingly common for the average person to downplay their severity. As a society, we seem to be under the impression that these conditions aren’t serious, are completely reversible, and have no bearing on our general health. This could not be further from the truth. Our oral health is closely intertwined with practically every major bodily system we have, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that your teeth and gums are directly connected to your bloodstream. As a result, any infection you develop in your oral cavity can spread to the rest of your body if it is not contained.

First there remains the real health risks associated with tooth decay and gum disease. But also there’s the lifetime cost associated with managing those conditions. Fillings, crowns, scaling, dental implants, etc. Even though they don’t cost much on their own. Still, they can certainly add up over your lifetime. Unfortunately, even with proper care, crooked teeth are more likely to experience repeated problems as a result of crowding, so they can actually be quite expensive in the long run.

Addressing Crooked Teeth

Ideally, you would have your teeth straightened as a child to prevent years of possible damage and decay. However, there’s no reason you can’t have your teeth straightened as an adult. It won’t undo past damage. But straightening your teeth makes it much easier to limit or completely eradicate future decay or infection in the affected areas. With the promise of a healthier mouth and a more attractive smile, it’s hard to see the downside.

The only possible problem is the aesthetic appearance of your smile while you’re completely your treatment program. Many adults are worried that conventional braces will make them look immature or weird. This is a perfectly valid concern. But the good news is that there are many highly effective options available to help you avoid exactly that.

In addition to conventional metal braces Jesmine Boghawala DDS in Cerritos offers Invisalign, ceramic, lingual, and invisible braces. The range of options means that there is a treatment that will work for you. Do you want removable trays for easy eating? Or would you rather have your braces on the backs of your teeth where no one can see them? Either way, you will find an approach that will allow you to have the straight, healthy teeth you deserve. It will just take a little patience, but you’ll be done before you know it.