Do Braces Make Your Teeth Stronger and Healthier?
Braces are orthodontic tools that gradually straighten a bad bite and misaligned or crooked teeth. They are an excellent option for both children and adults to fix orthodontic problems and offer many benefits. But you may wonder: can braces make your teeth stronger and healthier?
Read on to find the answer, as well as more information about braces, the conditions they treat, and their benefits.
A Closer Look at Braces
There are several different types of braces. The most common type features a bracket cemented on the front of the teeth connected with metal wires and bands on your molars.
How Braces Work
Braces gradually shift your teeth and jaw into proper alignment by exerting constant pressure. Orthodontists make incremental adjustments to achieve correct tooth and jaw position over an average period of 24 months.
What They Treat
Braces can treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Misaligned teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Misaligned jaw (TMJ issues)
- Overcrowding
- Teeth spacing
- Misaligned midlines
Who They’re For
Anyone with misaligned teeth or jaw or with bite issues can benefit from braces. Orthodontic treatment for children generally begins anywhere from 12 to 14 years old. Adults can also get braces to help straighten their teeth or address other issues.
Benefits of Braces
Braces offer significant benefits once treatment is complete, such as:
- Better digestion
- Improved oral health
- Lower risk of dental issues
- Clearer speech
- Enhanced self-confidence
Do Braces Make Your Teeth Stronger?
The benefits of braces for dental health include making the teeth stronger. There are two main ways they do so:
Correct Jaw and Tooth Misalignment
Jaw and tooth misalignment can weaken your teeth due to unevenly distributed biting and chewing forces.
This can lead to various harmful conditions, such as:
- Fractures and cracks in the teeth, including root fractures
- Attrition, or wearing of the chewing surfaces of teeth through tooth-to-tooth contact
- Gum recession
- Exposed tooth root
- Abfractions, or wedge- or V-shaped damage of the tooth at the gum line
Braces shift your teeth into the correct position, allowing them to come together without causing damage.
Reduce Risk of Disease
Braces also make the teeth easier to clean. Overcrowded or overlapping teeth create areas that are small, tight, and hard to reach with toothbrushes and floss. Straightening the teeth makes these areas more accessible.
The ability to clean thoroughly decreases plaque and tartar buildup, which reduces your chances of tooth decay and gum disease that weaken the teeth and surrounding bone.
How To Know If Braces Are the Right Option for You
These signs and symptoms indicate you or your child may benefit from braces:
- Irregular, early, or late loss of baby teeth
- Late or delayed eruption of adult teeth
- Jaw joint issues, including jaw shifting and popping or clicking sounds
- Constantly biting the insides of your cheek
- Extra or missing teeth
- Difficulty chewing food
- Disproportionate jaws and teeth
- Regular mouth-breathing
Enjoy Straighter and Healthier Teeth With Dr. Hansen
Braces can make your teeth stronger and improve your oral health. Contact your Las Vegas orthodontist Dr. Hansen today to begin your journey to straighter, stronger, healthier teeth.
