How Orthodontic Treatment Can Improve Your Oral Health

Orthodontics can improve the way your teeth and jaw function. Straighter teeth are easier to keep clean, and they are less likely to trap harmful bacteria that can cause gum disease.

Overcrowded teeth can also make it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene, leading to gum disease. Fortunately, orthodontic treatment the woodlands tx treatment can fix this problem for adults of all ages.

Oral Health

Orthodontic treatment can improve your oral health in several ways. However, your overall dental health depends on your commitment to maintain a rigorous at-home oral hygiene routine and to attend regular dental visits while you’re undergoing orthodontic care.

Teeth that are not well aligned can interfere with chewing and digestion. In addition, misaligned teeth can lead to speech impediments.

Food particles and plaque can stick to braces and other appliances, causing tooth decay and gum disease. This is particularly true for sugary foods and drinks, such as candy, gum, and toffee. Fortunately, a healthy diet and good oral hygiene habits can help ensure that your treatment is both safe and effective.

Teeth & Jaw Alignment

Incorrect jaw alignment can lead to chewing difficulties, speech impairments, and other problems that impact the quality of life. By correcting malocclusions like overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites, orthodontic treatment can enhance the chewing and biting functions of the teeth while alleviating excessive strain on the jaw joints.

In addition to orthodontic treatment the woodlands tx treatments, practicing good oral hygiene habits, avoiding harmful behaviors such as thumb sucking or pacifier use beyond age 4, and keeping regular appointments with an AAO Orthodontist can help maintain proper jaw alignment and prevent future health concerns. This is important because relapse can occur when the teeth and jaws return to their original positions over time.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, isn’t just about a bad habit; it can significantly affect the alignment of your smile. It also puts strain on the jaw and can cause headaches, ear pain, and neck pain.

Bruxism is usually caused by bite problems, and orthodontic treatment can help address those. Using braces or clear aligner therapy, we can make sure your teeth and jaw fit together correctly, which can help reduce grinding and strain.

Behavioral changes, such as stress reduction and cutting back on caffeine, alcohol, and gum chewing can also help prevent teeth grinding. If you have a recurring problem with teeth clenching and grinding, talk to your dentist about it.

TMJ

Whether you suffer from clicking or popping sounds when you open or close your mouth, jaw pain, limited mandibular opening, myofascial tenderness and headaches, orthodontic treatment can help. While a misaligned bite has been linked to these symptoms, other studies have found that not all forms of malocclusion are associated with TMD.

Orthodontic treatments that focus on restoring harmony to the chewing system can reduce or eliminate TMJ-related problems. This is especially true if the problem results from teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) or an incorrect bite. A procedure called arthroscopy can also provide relief by flushing out the joint, removing scar tissue and repositioning the disc.

Neck & Shoulder Pain

Your orthodontist can help with neck pain by treating the problems that cause it. For example, if you grind your teeth (bruxism) or have TMJ, these issues can affect the muscles in your neck and shoulder and lead to pain.

Moreover, research has shown that a comprehensive treatment approach is necessary for patients with concomitant spine and posture anomalies, as it increases the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment the woodlands tx methods and provides better long-term results. This is why orthodontists and orthopedists work closely together to address the entire patient, including musculoskeletal problems that can affect their bite and posture. This helps patients achieve the most stable, healthy, and beautiful smile possible.

Sinus Relief

Your largest sinuses sit behind your cheekbones, and they are close to the back upper molars. If these molars become infected, the roots can extend into the sinus cavities, leading to complications like congestion and pressure.

Just like a bag of chips swelling during air travel, sinus pressure is uncomfortable and irritating. To help alleviate this pain, try breathing in steam from a warm shower or saline rinses (you can make your own with distilled or previously boiled water and salt). It is important to stay well-hydrated, as this will also prevent dry mucus membranes and reduce inflammation. You can also use eucalyptus oil topically and inhale it to soothe sinus congestion and cough.