Straight Teeth Are Healthy Teeth: Why Alignment Matters

Think about all of the components of a perfect smile. There’s that just-right curve of the lips, or the dimples that only show up when someone smiles. At the center of it all, however, is a shiny set of straight teeth. For better or worse, well-aligned teeth are a core part of a great smile and, for most, a symbol of general beauty.

But there’s more to straight teeth than meets the eye. While they certainly do look great, there are actual benefits to having straight teeth. There’s nothing wrong with a few crooked teeth or an extra gap. However, straight teeth can make your mouth healthier while also improving your speaking and chewing abilities. With so many great straightening options out there, it may be time to evaluate them.

If you’re ready to see how a healthy, straight smile can work for you, see us at Allure Dental Care of Maple Lawn. Mahvash Zulfaghary, DDS, Zehra Asad, DDS, and the rest of our team will work with you to help you get the great smile you deserve. Dr. Zulfaghary and Dr. Asad are dedicated to their patients’ health and work to ensure their patients feel empowered to make informed decisions about treatments.

Cleaning is a breeze

Toothbrushes work best when they have a smooth surface to keep clean. The bristles that make up a toothbrush are made to reach into nooks and crannies, but they can’t reach everything. Think about using a broom – you can clean a smooth floor easier and faster than one with lines and cracks.

It’s also harder to floss crooked and jumbled teeth. Depending on the arrangement of your teeth, it could be difficult to even fit floss in between them. And the harder it is to floss, the less likely you are to do it regularly.

Better oral health

Great oral health starts with tooth health. Straight teeth protect each other and are a source of strength for your mouth as a whole. Crooked teeth are more likely to crack or break. 

Oral health is possible with clean teeth. When you clean your teeth, you’re doing more than just dislodging food particles and improving your breath. Clean teeth are less likely to have plaque build-ups. Plaque is a sticky biofilm made of bacteria, that sits between your teeth. Some of these bacteria attack your tooth enamel, wearing it down. Without proper brushing and flossing, you’re at a higher risk for many different ailments, including: 

• Tooth decay
• Cavities
• Gingivitis – this early stage of gum disease is also the most treatable.
• Gum disease
• Tartar build-up, which can lead to receding gums and gum disease.

Additionally, red and swollen gums can be a sign of periodontal disease, which can happen because of overcrowded or too-widely-spaced teeth.

Easier chewing and speaking

Your teeth don’t get enough credit for how much they help you speak. Your tongue, lips, and teeth all play a role in helping you project different sounds. Gapped, protruding, or crowded teeth can block your tongue or force it up too soon, causing a lisp.

Chewing is also easier with straight teeth. When you bite into a sandwich, your top and bottom teeth work together to tear off a bite. Although this is possible without straight teeth, it’s much easier when all of your front teeth are aligned.

If you want straight teeth, you may have more options than you think. At Allure Dental Care of Maple Lawn, we specialize in helping patients through Invisalign aligners. Call or request an appointment at our Fulton office today.