When thinking about straightening teeth, many people think of traditional metal braces. While these braces are effective, there are numerous objections to wearing them. They can be uncomfortable in the mouth, especially early in the treatment process. Adjustments can cause temporary bouts of pain. They are difficult to clean, and they require spending a lot of time on oral care. Many foods are off limits, or you risk damaging the wires or breaking off a metal bracket.
The biggest objection to traditional braces is their appearance. Orthodontics have come a long way, and there are much more discreet options to help you get the smile you have always wanted. Invisalign® is a transparent, removable system that provides excellent results while addressing other significant health concerns.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
For some people, the appearance of their teeth is a source of embarrassment. Crowding, overlapping, jutting or large gaps can cause you to feel self-conscious about smiling or even talking. It can have a serious impact on self-esteem, self-worth and socialization. If you are holding back from smiling or laughing, it can also affect the way people perceive you. Straight teeth can help you appear more confident, self-assured and approachable. However, appearance is not the only reason to consider having your misalignments corrected. Here’s 4 more reasons to choose Invisalign.
1. Easier Cleaning Protects Your Heart
Straight teeth are easier to clean. Easier cleaning eliminates plaque and the bacteria that come along with it. By removing plaque, you ward off tooth decay and gum disease. There’s even more to clean teeth – they help protect your overall health! The bacteria that thrive on plaque are associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other serious health problems.
Although the research has yet to prove an independent link between gum disease and heart attack and stroke, scientists do know that when you have gum disease, you have two to three times the risk of a major cardiovascular event. The reason behind this is likely inflammation. Inflammation, such as the type present with gum disease, activates immune cells that attack bacteria and other invading organisms. But if left unchecked, it can increase inflammation throughout the body, and is particularly hard on the heart and blood vessels.
2. Clean Teeth Help Prevent Infections
Just like protecting your heart, the easier to clean your teeth are, the more protection it gives the rest of your body. While most emphasis is on the cardiovascular system, many studies have now shown a connection between respiratory infections, kidney disease and inflammatory arthritis.
Although you may do your best to brush your teeth, crowding and other malformations can make it nearly impossible to prevent pockets of bacteria from forming, which can lead to gum disease. These bacteria circulate through your blood system, but they can also be inhaled. If you are older, immunocompromised or have lifestyle factors such as smoking that make your lungs more prone to infection, these mouth bacteria can give you upper-respiratory complications, including pneumonia.
Additionally, it’s estimated that those with gum disease are up to four times more likely to receive a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis. A joint-damaging and often debilitating disease, it is characterized by swollen and painful joints and high levels of overall inflammation. Straightening your teeth could help minimize the inflammatory load on your entire body.
3. Straighter Teeth Reduce Enamel Wear and Mouth Breathing
Beyond bacterial removal, other medical issues can be prevented by correcting misalignments. Tooth injury is more likely if your mouth is not properly aligned. If your teeth are constantly bumping into each other in ways they are not supposed to, you risk chipped or worn enamel, which can lead to tooth decay or loss. If you have difficulty closing your mouth, you will not have as much saliva to coat your teeth. Saliva protects the enamel, and without it, you risk damage and cavities.
4. Aligning Teeth Can Correct Temporomandibular Joint Problems (TMJ)
While you may associate TMJ with pain in the joints of your jaw, including the click, pops and cracking sounds, it is actually a symptom of a larger diagnosis called TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. Although the two names are used interchangeably, TMD better recognizes the true scope of symptoms you may be suffering if your misaligned teeth are causing you physical problems.
The obvious sign of TMD is jaw pain. For some people, this may be a chronic ache, while for others it can be intense, affecting how and what you eat, or even how much you talk. The pain from the jaw may radiate into your cheeks, ear and teeth. However, not everyone has jaw pain, yet they can still have TMD.
Common symptoms of TMD with or without jaw pain include unexplained headaches, especially at the back of the head or near the temples, migraines, earaches, neck pain, shoulder pain and even back pain. Chronic pain in the temples, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and dizziness (vertigo) can also be associated with TMD. The pain can become worse with stress, especially if you clench your jaw, and the pain can become bad enough to interfere with sleep.
Protecting your health is a great investment in yourself, and having your misaligned teeth corrected can make a big difference.
Why Choose Invisalign?
Invisalign was the first revolutionary orthodontic treatment option. Instead of bonded brackets and a mouthful of wires, you can straighten your smile with clear, removable orthodontic trays. In most cases, the treatment is just as effective as regular braces, but only you will know you are having your teeth corrected! Think of them like invisible braces without any lifestyle restrictions.
Invisalign works for many of the common smile problems, including those teeth that overlap, are crooked or suffer from gaps between them. Unlike average braces, they are hardly noticeable. They are custom fit to your teeth, and you change to a new set every few weeks. Each new set is slightly different than the last, conforming to the new position of your teeth and continuing to reshape your smile. Invisalign works about as quickly as normal braces, although in some cases, it is even faster.
The best part about Invisalign is the ease of use. You put them in for the recommended amount of time each day, but you can remove them for cleaning. This makes it much easier to properly clean your mouth, allowing you to thoroughly brush all the tooth surfaces, as well as effectively floss without trying to work around annoying wires. The trays are also easy to clean and keep fresh. Best of all, you can continue to eat and drink whatever you want. Since you remove Invisalign aligners to eat, there is no reason to avoid your favorite foods.
Aligning your teeth will have a positive impact on your self-image and help prevent or treat common health concerns. By addressing both issues, Invisalign can greatly improve your overall well-being. Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry of Atlanta can introduce you to one of the most discreet ways to achieve your smile goals with Invisalign. Contact the office today to schedule your consultation.
