The first thing that springs to mind when we think of braces is great teeth straightening, which is true in itself! Braces in Stockport, Manchester, can provide you with the straighter smiles you’ve always dreamed. However, did you know that there are so many health benefits to braces that stretch far beyond your cosmetic appearance?

Braces with our orthodontist in Stockport, Manchester, can achieve fantastic health outcomes for your teeth, gums, and bite.

Braces can prevent gum disease.

The gaps and spaces between your teeth can leave your gums exposed, threatening their health. Foods and sugars you eat and get caught in these gaps and sit on the gums, especially if they’re in hard-to-clean areas. Bacteria is attracted to this food, breaking it down to form harmful toxins that disrupt our gums’ health. By closing the gaps in our teeth, we lessen the area of exposed gum and lessen our chances of contracting gum disease.

Braces can prevent bad breath.

Bad breath occurs when the bacteria in our mouth start breaking down remnants of the food we eat that gets trapped in our teeth. They release toxins and gases that are often smell foul and can be present on our breath. By limiting these gaps that snag food by straightening our teeth, we limit the development of bad breath.

Braces can prevent tooth decay.

That’s right – they don’t just straighten your smile, they can help keep your teeth perfectly healthy. In much the same way they protect our gums from harmful bacteria, they do our teeth too. By straightening any misaligned teeth, we limit the nooks that are hard to reach when brushing. These overlapping surfaces are the perfect hideaway for bacteria and their corrosive toxins, but by increasing the surface area of the tooth we can clean it more effectively. This minimises your chances of developing decay, because you can easily maintain your dental hygiene.

Braces help with your bite.

You may not realise you have a misaligned bite until you visit your orthodontist. A misaligned bite can lead to jaw joint problems, discomfort, pain, and improper mouth function. By straightening your teeth with braces, you’re altering the formation of your teeth and how your jaw bites together. This can help improve your bite to relieve discomfort, reshape the face, and improve chewing and biting ability.

Braces can improve your self-esteem.

While not typically health related, we confess, braces can do wonders for your self-esteem and self-confidence. Many people feel that their teeth aren’t as impressive as they’d like, whether they would like whitening or straightening, and this can lead to them to hiding their smile in social situations. Straight teeth could make us happier because we want to smile more, psychologically boosting our mood.

Straightening your teeth with Heaton Mersey Orthodontic Centre in Stockport can significantly improve your smile, but now you know it could do wonders for your dental health too.

Start your journey to a happier, healthier mouth by booking your first consultation today!