An orthodontist is someone who can improve your health in more ways than one. You may not believe it at first, but it’s actually true. While they are not general practitioners in healthcare (nor have the expertise to treat or cure physical health issues), they do play a role in making sure such health issues in particular can be avoided in the long-run. Believe it or not, your oral health and overall health in particular go hand in hand.

We will explain it in this guide as we reveal how orthodontists can improve health in ways. Let’s begin with the list down below.

1. Aligned Teeth Enhances Oral Hygiene

It’s clear that aligned teeth will make it easier to properly maintain oral hygiene. On the other hand, crooked and overcrowded teeth could make it difficult to clean with a toothbrush due to the lack of space. As such, you can improve your health so long as you make sure you stick to your oral hygiene plan (even if your teeth are better aligned for better cleaning).

As such, the need for orthodontic treatment is even greater for this reason. Being able to consult with an orthodontist near Hammonton, NJ will open the doors to treatment opportunities based on your needs. Especially when it can be the gateway to better oral health in the future.

2. It Offers Jaw Pain and Headaches

Jaw pain and headaches can occur due to numerous conditions that may not be orthodontic related. However, if there are such orthodontic related situations where both are notable symptoms. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is what happens when the jaw is under strain. What you might not know is that it can reduce the quality of your life.

Now that you know, it may be a good idea to consult with an orthodontist near Hammonton, NJ regarding your TMJ. You’ll be able to find a treatment plan that will not only provide you consistent relief from TMJ, but you may also have possible conditions that could be corrected through orthodontic solutions if necessary.

3. Better Chewing Improves Digestion

Indeed, chewing will be the first stage of digestion. What you need to understand is that a proper bite will help improve your chewing abilities. Nonetheless, misaligned teeth or an improper bite could make your chewing ability a bit more difficult. As such, it can also lead to digestive issues as well.

Not only that, it may be wise to consider orthodontic treatment as a way to improve your digestive health going forward. Even though they might not handle the inner workings like your stomach and intestines, it’s obvious that they’ll help improve the chewing aspect of it with the right solution.

4. It Reduces Injury Risk

Suppose you had a unique dental situation such as protruding teeth (also known as “buck teeth”). These teeth could be vulnerable to accidental injuries be it contact sports or falls. Therefore, treating such bite imperfections with braces or orthodontic treatments will be useful in order to successfully reposition the teeth. An orthodontic solution can reduce the risk of teeth damage and injuries.

Such bite imperfections may be severe enough to the point where solutions like Invisalign might not be a suitable solution. Thus, the best approach would be with braces. An orthodontist will be able to determine a treatment plan moving forward. The sooner you schedule a consultation appointment, the better.

5. Improves Self-Confidence and Mental Health

Your overall smile can be a huge indicator of your self-confidence. A straight and aligned smile will give you peace of mind knowing you look your best. It can also improve your mental health as well. However, a not so straight smile could cause your self-confidence to be at a not so good level – to the point where your mental health can suffer from constant negative thoughts and feelings.

Smiling is good for the mind and your mood. Thus, it may be a good idea to handle your orthodontic issues as soon as possible for a smile that will improve your confidence for the better. It’s hard to imagine not going without the psychological benefits that come with smiling more.

6. Prevention Of Wear and Damage

Did you know that misaligned teeth will make it more susceptible to wear and damage? To make things worse, it can also lead to chips, cracks, and an increased risk of tooth decay. That’s why it is important to make sure that aligning them properly can be an excellent preventative measure. Not to mention, poor oral health due to the aforementioned issues can lead to poor health issues in the future.

Orthodontic treatments like braces and aligners can help align teeth. In return, your teeth will be less likely to deal with wear and damage. All the more reason to get an examination done to determine your options for orthodontic treatment.

7. Your Sleep Patterns Will Improve

Believe it or not, orthodontic treatment can help improve your sleep patterns. Taking it a step further, conditions like sleep apnea can even be caused by jaw misalignment caused by narrow airways. An orthodontist can offer palatal expanders and similar devices to handle the underlying causes. Bear in mind sleep apnea can also be fatal if it does not get treated properly.

Not to mention, the condition itself can be reversed. It may be more than just orthodontic solutions. However, it may be a good idea to consider talking to your general healthcare provider to solve the issue for good.

Final Thoughts

An orthodontist can improve your health in these seven ways. However, they are no substitute for a general healthcare provider whose job is to help prevent, treat, and cure numerous health issues that may arise. But orthodontic treatments can help play a role in being a preventative measure for such health issues in the long-haul – both physical and mental. Centerton Orthodontics will make sure that your situation pertaining to your orthodontic health can be addressed accordingly. For more information on how we can help, please call our office today at 856-358-6800.