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Crowded Teeth: Are You at Risk for Oral Health Problems?

The Truth About Crowded Teeth and Your Health from Gole Dental Group of Hastings, MI - GoleDentalGroup.com

Fixing overcrowded teeth is good for your health.

While many patients seek orthodontic treatment, specifically braces and expanders, for a more beautiful smile, there are actually a number health-related reasons to remedy overcrowded teeth as well.

Fixing crowded teeth can certainly impact people emotionally, instilling a greater sense of confidence and motivating individuals to put themselves out there and, well, smile more! But, let’s explore the actual health reasons behind orthodontic services too.

It can prevent gum disease.

When teeth are pushed too tightly together or over crowded, they can become very difficult to clean. These unreachable spaces become havens for old food particles and eventually bacteria. Gum disease is caused by bacteria and if left untreated, can lead to a serious infection. Straightening your teeth creates a much-needed space to clean and floss regularly.

Remedy tooth wear and bite stress.

Bad bites and jaw misalignment is often a result of crowded teeth that don’t line up properly. This causes unnatural wear patterns and unnecessary stress to the teeth, even eventual fractures and cracking.

Fixing overcrowding can even improve your chew.

If your teeth don’t connect properly, then chewing can be pretty difficult. Swallowing larger chunks of food is bad news for your stomach and intestines, potentially causing greater digestive problems down the road. Teeth that are in proper alignment allow you to chew food thoroughly, promoting optimal nutrient absorption and easier digestion.

It can also help with bad breath.

Bad breath is caused by oral bacteria left on your teeth and gums after eating. As mentioned, over-crowded teeth are difficult to clean, and food particles are frequently left in hard to reach spaces. That results in bad breath!

It can improve the overall health of the body.

Over-crowded teeth can cause chronic stress headaches, neck and jaw pain due to misalignment, and increased clenching. Fixing your bite may do more than increase your self-esteem and happiness level, it could actually help you sleep better, eat better, and maintain a healthier lifestyle overall.

At Gole Dental in Hastings, MI, we provide a number of different options for both braces and expanders using the latest technology. Schedule your first appointment, and we can determine which options is best for you. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us anytime!