Dentistry: It's More Than Drilling and Filling

Having misaligned or crooked teeth is a problem that most people aren't particularly happy about. After all, it can make your smile look less than perfect. But did you know that your crooked teeth could also be worsening your oral health? Here's what you need to know about this phenomenon.

Why Crooked Teeth Are a Problem

When people have straight teeth with an adequate amount of space between each one, tools like toothbrushes and floss work very well. The bristles of a toothbrush are able to effectively squeeze between teeth, removing as much plaque as possible, and of course, floss can do the same thing. But this is essentially under the best possible circumstances, as not everyone is born with naturally straight teeth and some who were may not have them stay that way over the years.

When your teeth are crooked, it means that one or more teeth are overlapping each other. This can make it difficult for floss to fit through, as you may have experienced yourself. Floss can end up shredding and falling apart if you try to pull it between two overcrowded teeth, and it may prevent you from reaching the gums at all. This is, of course, integral to maintaining the health of your gums, so it's a real problem.

And if floss won't fit well between your teeth, you can assume that you're not gaining the full efficacy of brushing your teeth, either. Overcrowded and overlapping teeth will prevent bristles from wrapping around the tooth, and instead, they'll only be able to brush the top, front, and back. Without bristles going between the teeth, bacteria and plaque can reign supreme and end up causing cavities and enamel loss between your teeth.

What to Do About It

There are no two ways about it — if you want ideal oral health and a smile that looks good to boot, you need braces. Thankfully, braces have come a long way over the years. There are many options now, ranging from invisible braces to sublingual to standard braces, and all of them can help to straighten out your teeth.

Your orthodontist will ensure that your teeth are not only straight but have adequate space between each one. This is enough space so that you can clean them adequately and they look cosmetically pleasing, but not so much that it looks like you have gaps between your teeth. 

If you're not happy with how your smile looks, you're probably even more displeased to learn that it could be impacting your oral health. Take the first step today towards getting your smile corrected so your teeth and gums can be as healthy as possible.

For more information about braces, contact a dental office like Poulson Orthodontics.