Do you wince when you look in the mirror and see your crooked, overcrowded, chipped, or broken teeth? Maybe you’re thinking about restoring your smile with cosmetic dental procedures. Maybe you’re “on the fence” about this step because you feel that “there’s no reason to fix my teeth except looking better”? However, there are very good health reasons to fix your teeth beyond the merely cosmetic ones.
Many of these issues that may appear to be cosmetic actually affect your oral health and even your overall health. Dr. Cappy Sinclair and his partner, Dr. Reichley, of Coastal Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Virginia Beach, VA want to help you restore your smile while preserving your health. Read on to learn more about the important reasons to fix dental problems from Dr. Sinclair and his team below.
Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth may lead to more serious dental issues if not addressed. Teeth can move in your mouth, becoming overcrowded if there’s not enough space for them. When teeth have moved too close together, increasing your risk of tooth decay, but the pressure can cause them to crack or fracture. This can cause pain and eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also more difficult to clean, causing additional plaque to form between teeth and along the gum line. Bacteria living in your mouth will then begin to feed on the plaque, eroding your tooth enamel in the process. Additionally, these bacteria can cause your gums to become infected and inflamed. The swollen gums pull away from your teeth, making them less stable. Eventually, they can even become loose or even fall out. Progressive gum disease has also been linked to an increased risk of systemic health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Ensure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
When teeth are not aligned correctly, over time they will wear unevenly which can result in excessive tooth decay, sensitivity and pain. A common cause for excessive wear of tooth is an uneven bite, such as an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, or from teeth being crooked or missing. An uneven crown or filling can also be the culprit.
Excessive tooth wear can cause teeth to be worn down to the more sensitive layer under the enamel, called the dentin. Dentin erodes even faster and is more sensitive than enamel once it’s exposed. If an uneven bite is left untreated, your teeth can be worn down to their stumps, necessitating bridges, crowns, root canals, implants or even dentures to restore your smile.
Improve Overall Health
As previously mentioned, gum disease increases the risk of developing overall health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s. An uneven bite, fractured or overcrowded teeth, or even missing teeth can cause gum disease simply by virtue of the fact that they are more difficult to clean. Therefore, correcting what seems like a purely cosmetic issue can actually keep your body healthy in addition to giving you a more attractive, healthier smile.
Improve Your Smile in Virginia Beach, VA
Coastal Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry is a respected dental practice that offers many different types of conservative, effective treatments to fit your needs. Schedule a consultation with our Laskin Road office today by calling (757) 453-7657, or call (757) 264-6361 to schedule with our Haygood Road office. Appointments can also be scheduled online.