Most people think dental correction is about straightening teeth for cosmetic reasons. Why?
Because everyone thinks fixing teeth means fixing the smile.
But let’s be real…
Crooked teeth cause problems that go far beyond smile lines. Misaligned teeth can cause skin issues, digestive problems, and poor posture. And you’d never know it.
The cool thing is dental problems can impact your entire body, so fixing them can have major benefits outside of having a pretty smile.
Let’s dig into this…
What you’ll learn:
1. Why teeth play a big role in your overall health
2. How dental health is connected to skin problems
3. Why a misaligned bite ruins digestion
4. The connection between your bite and posture
5. Why dental correction is worth it
Why Teeth Play A Role In Your Overall Health
Your mouth is the beginning of your entire body.
Ok, ok. That sounds slightly dramatic. But only slightly.
When your teeth are crowded, misplaced, or injured, it impacts your oral health. And when your oral health suffers, it can impact the rest of your body.
Gaps in your teeth are hard to clean. That means more plaque. More plaque means more inflammation. And inflammation in your mouth can cause effects you don’t even realize.
Oral health issues are actually one of the most common health problems in the world. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, nearly 3.7 billion people live with some form of oral disease. 3.7 BILLION PEOPLE!
Yet somehow dental health is still one of the last treatments people think about when they consider their overall health.
Your teeth, gums, and jaw line aren’t just important for your mouth. They’re connected to your entire body. And problems in your mouth can lead to problems with your skin, digestion, and even posture.
This is why it’s helpful to understand the Invisalign treatment process. With Invisalign aligners, patients can correct their bite and alignment with clear, removable trays. This sets them up for better oral health and decreases the chance of other hidden problems cropping up.
The Skin And Dental Health Connection
You know how there are people out there who try every skincare product known to mankind and still struggle with clear skin?
Yeah, it could be their teeth.
Skin problems and poor oral health often go hand-in-hand. Here’s why.
When your teeth are crowded together or overlap, it’s hard to brush and floss. You rinse and spit, but that doesn’t remove all of the plaque built up between your teeth.
Once that plaque accumulates, bacteria grow. And that bacteria can enter your bloodstream and cause inflammation all over your body. Your skin is especially prone to that inflammation.
If you’re wondering what that inflammation looks like, scroll down to your bathroom mirror. Acne, redness, rashes, and dull skin are just a few symptoms that show up when your oral health is out of whack.
Patients who’ve straightened their teeth report clearer skin after their treatment. That’s because straight teeth are a lot easier to clean!
How Misaligned Teeth Ruins Digestion
If you thought this article was only about skin health, think again.
Problems with digestion actually start in your mouth, with your teeth.
Your teeth break down your food so your stomach and intestines can do their job. If your teeth aren’t doing their job properly, it makes it harder for your gut to do theirs.
When your teeth are unevenly aligned or crowded, you’re not chewing your food as effectively. Larger pieces of food make it to your stomach, which forces your digestive tract to work harder than it needs to. Bloating, indigestion, and acid reflux are all too common when your teeth aren’t aligned right.
Additionally, your saliva production may decrease when your teeth are misaligned. Your saliva contains digestive enzymes that help break down food as you chew. When you have to chew more (because your teeth aren’t doing their job), you produce less saliva. That means your food is already behind the eight ball before it even reaches your stomach.
Believe it or not, malocclusion (the technical term for a misaligned bite) is quite common. About 56% of people worldwide actually have some sort of dental misalignment.
Bacteria can also enter your gut from your mouth and cause havoc on your microbiome. The connection between your oral health and gut health is called the oral-gut axis. When your mouth is unhealthy, it can make your gut unhealthy too.
The fix for both of these issues? Straight teeth.
When your teeth alignment is corrected, you can chew your food more effectively and your saliva production increases. Your digestive tract will thank you.
How Your Bite Impacts Your Posture
Did you know that your teeth can impact your posture?
It sounds crazy, right?
Your jaw works closely with the muscles in your neck and upper back. If your jaw is misaligned due to your bite, it can cause your neck and upper body to compensate.
Studies have shown that:
– Children with certain types of malocclusions have higher rates of kyphosis, also known as hunched posture
– Jaw misalignment can cause forward head posture, which strains the neck and upper back
– Dental alignment has been linked to improving posture throughout the entire body
If you’re someone who suffers from chronic neck pain or tension headaches, this is important information to know. When your teeth don’t align properly, it causes tension on your jaw joint. That tension can spread to your neck and upper back.
When you get your teeth aligned properly, you’re taking pressure off of your jaw. And when your jaw isn’t tense, your neck and back don’t have to compensate either.
Straightening teeth can improve your posture.
Why Fixing Teeth Is Worth It
Ok, let’s recap…
Crooked teeth and malocclusions can lead to:
– Skin irritation and inflammation
– Poor digestion
– Poor posture
When you fix your bite with something like Invisalign teeth straighteners, you can improve your overall health.
Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic treatments for teeth straightening. Aligners are removable and completely transparent, which means there’s no metal mouth feeling when you smile.
And when you take your aligners out to eat, you’re also encouraged to practice excellent oral health by brushing and flossing after every meal.
Think of all of the benefits as a snowball effect. Once you fix your bite and straighten your teeth, you’ll be able to keep your teeth cleaner than ever before. Less bacteria in your mouth means less inflammation throughout your body.
So why wait? Fix your teeth and watch your body thank you.
Tieing It All Together
Who knew teeth had such an impact on your entire body? From clearer skin to better digestion to improved posture. Straightening teeth can have major benefits outside of the obvious aesthetic ones.
Let’s review:
– Skin: Misaligned teeth allow bacteria to fester, which can travel through the bloodstream and inflame your skin.
– Digestion: Improper bites cause you to chew less, which means less saliva. Saliva is filled with enzymes that kickstart digestion, so less saliva = bad news for your gut. – Posture: Teeth that don’t align properly can cause your jaw to put pressure on your neck, which can lead to neck and upper back pain.
If you’re ready to learn more about the Invisalign treatment process and how fixing your teeth can improve your overall health, click here to schedule a consultation with our office.
Don’t ignore what your smile is trying to tell you about the rest of your body. Correcting your teeth can make all the difference.
