Interested in getting a straight, beautiful smile as an adult? Perhaps you had braces when you were younger but your teeth have started shifting back because you stopped wearing your retainer. Or maybe you’ve never had orthodontics and now your teeth are crowding, something that naturally happens as you get older.
Whatever the case, you’ll be happy to know that a straight, healthy, and beautiful smile is an asset at any age. That’s why at Dr. Melanie Orthodontics, we love helping grown-ups achieve stunning designer smiles with adult orthodontics.
“But am I too old for braces?” You ask. No, there’s no age limit on getting orthodontics. So how can straight teeth transform your life? We’ve got your answers. Here, eight benefits of straight teeth that show you’re never too old to straighten your teeth.
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Straight Teeth Are Easier To Clean
The extra nooks and crannies that come with crooked teeth can mean a less effective clean when you brush and floss. In turn, this can lead to a higher likelihood of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. On the other hand, straight, well-spaced teeth are much easier to clean and help set you up for success when it comes to healthy teeth and gums.
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Straight Teeth Help Reduce Jaw Bone Loss
Your teeth and jaws have a mutually beneficial relationship. Your jaws support your teeth by providing strength and taking the impact from the forces of chewing. In return, your teeth help out your jaws: stimulation from chewing and biting helps keep the jaws healthy.
On the flip side, missing or ill-functioning crooked teeth can understimulate the jaw and contribute to atrophy of your jaw bone — think of it as a use-it-or-lose-it situation. A shrinking jaw bone can affect your oral functioning as well as give your lower face an older, less vibrant appearance.
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Straight Teeth Helps You Avoid Tooth Injury
Protruding teeth, especially front teeth, can be prone to chips, cracks, and fractures from external forces. And crooked teeth are more likely to rub against other teeth and become injured when you’re chewing or from chronic teeth grinding.
In contrast, teeth corrected with braces for adults or clear aligners like Invisalign or 3M™ Clarity™ Aligners align teeth are more protected and function together as they should.
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You Lessen Your Likelihood of Uneven Wear on Your Tooth Enamel
Like we mentioned above, straight teeth allow you to chew properly and use your teeth surfaces correctly. However, crooked teeth can lead to uneven wear on your protective tooth enamel and increase your chances of tooth decay and cavities.
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A Well-Aligned Bite Makes Chewing, Breathing and Speaking Effortless
One of the greatest benefits of straight teeth is optimal oral functioning for chewing, breathing, and speaking. Misaligned teeth can make chewing difficult, affecting your food choices and impacting your nutrition, a bad bite can hinder nasal breathing, while both a misaligned bite and teeth can contribute to speech issues. A beautifully straight, custom smile designed by smile engineer Dr. Melanie can bring back the oral functioning you’ve long missed — or maybe never had.
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Functional Jaws Can Help Heal TMJ Pain and Headaches
A bad bite and crooked teeth sometimes contribute to bruxism — some develop a teeth grinding habit in a subconscious attempt to stack them together properly. Teeth grinding can lead to pain in your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), and to headaches or tension in your shoulders, face, and neck.
As a San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe orthodontist, Dr. Melanie and her team have helped many patients find relief from TMJ disorder with adult orthodontic treatment options. Braces and clear aligners for adults can be a major game changer when it comes to finding freedom from TMJ tension and pain.
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A Beautiful Smile Gets You Ahead
It’s no secret that a straight smile improves how you look. And it does wonders for your self-confidence and can even get you ahead in life.
Research published by the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics revealed that people with ideal smiles were perceived as more intelligent and have a better chance of finding a job. And in a study on first impressions, people with straight teeth were rated by subjects as more successful, wealthier, happier, healthier, smarter and even more likely to get a date.
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A Straight Smile Makes You Look Younger
Love your smile and you’ll smile more… and more smiling gives the impression of youthful vitality. It’s like a facelift but without the invasive surgery!
Research found that smiling gives others the impression of more health over a neutral expression. And this impression increased with age. In other words? Younger adults look healthier when they smile, but older adults look even more healthy — and much younger when they smile more.
Start Your Custom Smile With Expert Adult Orthodontics in Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego
We know how life-changing a new smile can be at any age so we’re here to help you get the amazing, designer smile that will enhance your quality of life. Our adult patients love our high tech approach, and our focus on convenient, efficient, and comfortable orthodontics.
Schedule a complimentary initial consultation at our Rancho Santa Fe or San Diego office and get started on your dream smile today!
