Everyone wants a beautiful smile with the help of cosmetic dentistry. When you flash your mega-watt grin, you want to know that your teeth are beautifully white and perfectly aligned. What many people do not realize is that cosmetic dental procedures are about more than creating a gorgeous smile. They are also quite helpful for improving oral health and even your overall health.
Cosmetic dental procedures improve oral health in a variety of ways.
When you have problems with a tooth, you tend to favor that side of your mouth and use the other side to bite and chew your food. This is detrimental, though, as it causes excessive wear and tear on the "good" side of your mouth. When you are fitted with veneers in an attempt to get a brighter smile, you will also find that the veneers improve how your "bad" tooth can bite and chew, meaning you will apply even pressure to your teeth instead of causing problems on both sides of your mouth.
Depending on the type of cosmetic dentistry procedure you receive, you could have a stronger smile. If you get crowns to hide chipped or cracked teeth, the crowns help to make your teeth stronger and prevent further breakage. Crowns also prevent further bacteria from getting into the damaged teeth and causing infections.
That is just one example. Dental implants are another cosmetic procedure that also helps to create a stronger smile. In the past, dentures were more popular for replacing missing teeth, but they left the original tooth's root intact, leading to damage and jaw deterioration over time. These days, dental implants are becoming more popular. The permanent option replaces missing roots, which helps to keep the rest of the jawbone intact and therefore creates healthier teeth.
There are benefits to fixing misaligned teeth with braces. When teeth are misaligned, a host of other problems can occur. A pronounced overbite or underbite can lead to tooth decay, grinding teeth, gum disease, and even serious headaches. Depending on how misaligned your teeth are, you could have trouble chewing or even speaking correctly, especially if the misalignment causes pain in your jaw when you eat and speak. Keep in mind that a missing tooth can lead your teeth to shift and create misalignment as well, so you should prioritize replacing any missing teeth.
Crooked teeth that are bunched too close together can cause you to have more trouble cleaning between your teeth, which in turn leads to tooth decay. While most people consider braces to be cosmetic, the truth is that straightening your teeth can lessen your chance of tooth decay, cavities, infection, and worse.
Crowded, crooked teeth with a poor bite can also increase your risk of developing gum disease. When too much bacteria remains between your teeth, it eventually makes its way to the gums, causing inflammation that creates a separation of your gums from the teeth. This then allows for pockets of bacteria to form, which further destroys the bone and tissue that your teeth rely on to remain healthy. Eventually, it could even lead to bone loss and jaw disfigurement. Braces can help this by creating better alignment for your teeth and preventing bacteria buildup.
Cosmetic procedures are about more than creating a better-looking smile. Many of the procedures prevent further damage from occurring to your teeth and gums. By fixing cracked or missing teeth as soon as possible, you make it less likely that you will deal with serious issues in the future, such as periodontal disease or other painful conditions.
Cosmetic dental procedures do more than help your oral health. They can help your overall health as well. When someone is in poor oral health, eventually that begins to affect his or her overall health as well. Tooth loss, gum disease, and other oral health issues may eventually lead to an increased risk of diabetes, complications during pregnancy, heart disease, and stroke. New research even indicates there is a link between poor oral health and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Taking care of your teeth, including using cosmetic procedures, can help to protect your overall health.
Are you interested in learning more about how cosmetic dentistry can help your oral health to improve? Talk to your dentist to find out more.
Request an appointment here: https://www.leedentistryoxford.com or call Lee Family and Cosmetic Dentistry at (662) 546-1143 for an appointment in our Oxford office.
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