How Straight Teeth Help Your Oral Hygiene

Pamela Vergara • June 11, 2020

If you are looking for cosmetic dentistry on the Central Coast, look no further than our dentists here at New Leaf Dentists. We can provide you and your family with a wide range of dental services that can help you achieve not only the smile you are dreaming of but to ensure that your oral health is in tip-top shape.

One of the most popular services that families inquire about is braces. When we were young, it was uncommon for adults to seek orthodontic treatment and teeth straightening, but nowadays, people of all ages have a desire to have straighter teeth. The usual reason is for aesthetic purposes, but apart from this, there are many good reasons to have your teeth straightened. Oral hygiene is one of the biggest. Here’s how the two go together… 

Crooked Teeth are Harder to Clean

When your teeth are straight and even, it’s naturally easier to keep them brushed and flossed. When teeth overlap or are crooked, it can be quite difficult to brush and floss all of their surfaces, which can lead to plaque buildup, tooth decay and cavities, not to mention bad breath. Teeth that become too decayed or damaged may need to be removed, which can be painful and expensive.

Build Up of Bacteria

When you aren’t able to properly clean and care for your teeth and gums, you can expect there to be a proliferation of bacteria. In fact, bacteria build-up is quite common in mouths with crooked or crowded teeth. If left untreated, this bacteria can lead to gingivitis, a pretty serious gum disease that can lead to the loss of teeth, as well as painful and costly dental procedures. If that weren’t scary enough, this bacteria can also lead to other health problems.

Health Problems Outside Your Mouth

Bacteria build up around crooked, overlapping or crowded teeth can cause a multitude of oral problems, as well as impacting your general health. Conditions that are often linked to poor oral hygiene include heart disease and clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Gum disease or gingivitis caused by poor oral hygiene can also adversely affect pregnancy and early premature labour. Taking good care of your mouth also means protecting your health in other important ways.

Fixing the Problem

If you have crooked or overlapping teeth, having them fixed is important for your smile and your entire body. Braces have come a long way since we were teenagers and there are a variety of options, including traditional metal braces and virtually invisible, clear aligners.

At New Leaf Dentists, your options for clear aligners include Invisalign, ClearCorrect and the latest addition to our offerings, Angelalign. Though we do not offer traditional metal braces for children and teenagers at our practice, we work with many of the Central Coast’s finest orthodontic specialists and we can refer your children to one of our trusted experts in this field (while we look after the oral hygiene side of things). Whatever you choose, you’ll be so glad you took steps to protect your beautiful smile and your overall health.

If this is of interest to you or your family, please do not hesitate to connect with us and arrange a consultation with one of our dentists in Erina to discuss your options.

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