Teeth are not just there to make your smile fabulous, they are also there to bite and chew your food into a paste that can be easily swallowed and easily digested. Remember when eating your food, you only have one set of teeth and they are at the very beginning of your digestive system. If you swallow your food in big lumps, there’s nothing in your stomach or intestines to further break it down into particles of a size that can be easily accessed by your gut. If you don’t or can’t chew your food properly, you are depriving your body of essential nutrients.
If your teeth are not well aligned, it can be a hindrance to properly chewing your food, which is one reason to investigate orthodontics with us at Harley Street Dental Clinic in Harley Street.
Orthodontics are not just for children, or for serious misalignment issues. They are also great for correcting the position of teeth that are only mildly or moderately wonky.
Spread the burden
If your teeth are misaligned, it means that some of your teeth will be taking more of the strain of chewing, and that can be a lot of pressure. Did you know that the average adult male chew can exert as much pressure as 97kg or 200lbs? With that kind of force going on, you can see how, over time, it might cause the teeth taking most of the strain to crumble, especially if you also grind your teeth at night.
Getting your teeth aligned with braces or clear aligners will ensure that your teeth work properly together as a team to spread the burden of chewing, and, therefore, hopefully, last longer.
Easy to clean
The other important aspect of tooth alignment is that having teeth that line up next to each other correctly makes them much easier to keep clean. You won’t have to spend as much time poking around with interdental brushes to remove plaque hidden away in crevices, and, in the long run, this will also help protect you against decay and gum disease, and help you keep your own teeth longer.