Are you unhappy with your smile because of crooked, chipped, or damaged teeth? You’re not alone. But did you know that fixing these issues isn’t just about looks?
Restoring your smile can actually improve your overall health, and make it easier to eat, speak, and feel confident. At Valley Dental Health in Timonium, we believe a healthy smile is a happy smile. Let’s explore the key reasons why fixing dental problems can be one of the best decisions you make for your well-being.
Reasons to Consider Restoring Your Smile
1. Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth may be a sign of deeper problems beneath the gums. Teeth can shift in your mouth and may become overcrowded if there’s no room for them to go. When teeth have moved too close together, they can crack or fracture. This crowding of your teeth can bring on pain, and eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also challenging to clean. If teeth aren’t cleaned properly, plaque will form between teeth and along the gum line and begin to erode enamel. Also, your gums can become infected and inflamed, pulling away from your teeth and causing them to be less stable. What’s more, progressive gum disease is linked to systemic health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
2. Ensure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
Crooked teeth wear unevenly and cause premature tooth decay or pain over time. A common cause for excess tooth wear is an uneven bite. This could be the result of an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, crooked or missing teeth, or even an uneven crown or molding fit.
Excess tooth wear can cause several more serious dental concerns. Teeth can be worn down to the more sensitive layers beneath the enamel, called the dentin. Dentin erodes even faster and more painfully than enamel once it’s exposed. Without treatment, a person’s teeth can be worn down to their stumps. Bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and even dentures may be necessary to remedy the issue.
3. Improve Overall Health
Gum disease is linked to overall health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s. An uneven bite, fractured or overcrowded teeth, or even missing teeth can cause gum disease simply because of the fact that they’re more difficult to clean. Correcting what seems like a cosmetic problem can actually keep your body healthy.
4. Stop Jaw Pain and Headaches
Did you know that a problem with your smile can actually cause pain in your jaw, face, and head? If your teeth don’t fit together correctly, the muscles in your jaw have to work extra hard to chew and even just to rest. This constant strain can cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which causes jaw pain, clicking sounds when you open your mouth, and frequent headaches or migraines. By restoring your smile and fixing your bite, you can relieve this pressure and put a stop to the chronic pain.
5. Speak More Clearly
Your teeth play a role in how you form words and sounds. Gaps, missing teeth, or misaligned teeth can affect your speech and make it hard to pronounce certain letters clearly. You might notice a slight lisp or feel like you have to work harder to be understood. Restoring your smile by filling gaps and properly aligning your teeth can help your tongue make the correct contact points for clear speech.
6. Enjoy Your Favorite Foods Again
Missing, cracked, or sensitive teeth can make eating a chore instead of a pleasure. You might find yourself avoiding crunchy apples, chewy steak, or cold foods because they cause pain or are too difficult to eat. This can even lead to poor nutrition if you start skipping healthy foods.
Dental restorations like crowns, bridges, or implants restore the full function of your teeth. You’ll be able to bite and chew comfortably and enjoy a healthy diet without worry.
7. Boost Your Confidence and Social Life
It’s hard to put a price on feeling good about yourself. When you’re self-conscious about your smile, you might hold back from laughing in photos, avoid social situations, or even cover your mouth when you talk. This can take a real toll on your confidence at work, in relationships, and in your day-to-day life.
Investing in your smile is an investment in your overall happiness. A restored smile can give you the confidence to engage fully with the world around you. You’ll have a more positive and fulfilling social life.
Schedule an Appointment to Learn More
Valley Dental Health offers many different types of conservative, effective treatments to fit your needs. Schedule an appointment with our office today to learn more abut how we can help you achieve better oral health.