If you’ve ever wondered why so many people choose to wear braces, you’re not alone. While braces are often associated with straightening crooked teeth for cosmetic reasons, their benefits go way beyond appearances.

Braces can actually improve your physical and mental health in the long run. From improving your oral hygiene to making everyday tasks (like chewing and talking) easier, there are plenty of reasons why wearing braces is worth it.

In this article, we’ll be discussing how braces work, as well as the many long-term health benefits that come with wearing braces — no matter what age you are. Let’s get started!

How Do Braces Work?

Braces use steady pressure to shift your teeth into the right positions. Tiny brackets are attached to each tooth and connected with a wire that adjusts the alignment over time. This movement is made possible by a process called bone remodeling.

As pressure is applied, the tissue around your teeth stretches on one side and compresses on the other, allowing your teeth to gradually shift. Let’s break it down in a bit more detail below:

• Brackets are attached to each tooth, holding a flexible wire called an archwire.
• The archwire applies constant pressure, slowly shifting the teeth into alignment.
• Inside your gums is a layer called the periodontal membrane, which cushions your teeth. When pressure is applied, one side of this membrane compresses while the other side stretches. This creates space for your teeth to move, and your body naturally builds new bone to hold them in their new positions.

The Long-Term Health Benefits of Braces

While the most obvious benefit of braces is straighter teeth, their impact on your health is much deeper than you might think. Let’s explore the long-term health benefits of braces below:

Healthier Gums and Reduced Risk of Gum Disease

When your teeth are crooked or crowded, it’s harder to brush and floss them properly (usually due to gaps or protruding teeth creating hard-to-reach spots). Food gets stuck in them, plaque builds up, and bacteria essentially throw a party in your mouth. This can lead to gum disease.

Braces align your teeth, which makes them easier to clean. With straight teeth, brushing and flossing become more effective, which, in turn, reduces the risk of gum disease. Gum disease is quite nasty, so it’s definitely something to take seriously and avoid at all costs!

Reduced Risk of Tooth Decay

Again, if you have misaligned teeth, certain areas are probably easier to brush and floss than others. This is because misaligned teeth often overlap, which creates spots where plaque builds up. Over time, this can lead to tooth decay.

Braces fix this problem by straightening your teeth so every surface is easy to reach with a toothbrush and floss. Since you’ll be able to brush and floss every single tooth without putting in much effort, you won’t have to worry so much about getting cavities.

Prevention of Bone Erosion

Your teeth are anchored in your jawbone, and they need to stay properly aligned to keep that bone healthy. If your teeth are misaligned, they might be putting too much pressure on certain parts of your jawbone. Unfortunately, this can lead to bone erosion.

Braces distribute biting forces evenly across all of your teeth, which helps to keep your jawbone strong and healthy. This is especially important as you age because strong jawbones are essential for keeping your teeth in place.

Reduced Risk of Tooth Damage

Crooked teeth are more vulnerable to chips, cracks, and breaks. Why, you might ask? Because when your teeth stick out or don’t line up properly, they take on a lot more force when you bite or chew.

Once again, braces align your teeth so that the pressure you create while biting down or chewing is evenly distributed. This makes your teeth less likely to get damaged, even if you accidentally get hit in the mouth while playing contact sports or something like that.

Better Digestion

Here’s something most people don’t know: your teeth play a huge role in digestion. If your teeth don’t align properly, chewing becomes less effective. Large chunks of food that aren’t chewed well are harder for your stomach to break down. This can lead to indigestion.

By aligning your teeth, braces improve your ability to chew food thoroughly. This helps your digestive system do its job more efficiently. This is a great example of how everything in your body works together in order to function properly (which is why taking care of every part of your body is so important).

Increased Comfort and Reduced Jaw Pain

Misaligned teeth can cause all sorts of discomfort. For example, you might accidentally bite your cheek or strain your jaw while eating or talking. Over time, this can lead to chronic jaw pain or even issues with your temporomandibular joints.

Braces fix this issue by aligning your bite, therefore reducing the strain being put on your jaws and teeth. If you struggle with jaw pain, you’ll definitely notice the difference after getting braces. Finally, activities like eating and chatting with friends will be pain-free!

Improved Confidence and Mental Health

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you’re self-conscious about having crooked teeth, you might find yourself hiding your smile or feeling less confident in social situations.

Braces can change that, though. By giving you a straighter, healthier smile, they can improve your self-esteem and help you feel more confident at school or work. You might even find that your new smile gives you the confidence you need to ask that special someone out on a date!

Conclusion

If you’re in Philly and are considering getting braces (either for yourself or your kid), finding the right orthodontist is super important. At Philly Braces, we’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your specific needs. Set up a consultation with us today — you’re well on your way to achieving your dream smile!