1. Straight Teeth are Easier to Keep Clean

On the most basic level, straighter teeth are easier to clean. When teeth are crooked, it makes it harder to get the toothbrush and floss in all the nooks and crannies of your mouth. This leads to a buildup of plaque and bacteria which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Nothing is more frustrating knowing that you are cleaning your mouth as best as possible, but that you are still not able to get it totally clean.

2. Less Jaw Pain

If you have several crooked teeth, they can affect how you chew which can cause you jaw pain. The crooked teeth throw your jaw off balance leading to extra stress on your temporomandibular joints (TMJs).

Also, crooked teeth are often accompanied with an under or overbite which can also make brushing difficult. Misaligned jaws don't only make practicing good oral hygiene difficult, it can also affect how you eat, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Ignoring these problems will only lead to more issues down the road.

3. Better Oral Health
 

With straighter teeth, it is so much easier to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. When you are able to practice good oral hygiene, you are protecting your teeth and gums from cavities and gum disease. You are also less likely to suffer from chronic bad breath.
 

Gum disease also known as periodontal disease is a serious issue that should not be ignored either. If left untreated, it can lead to infection, soft tissue damage, receding gums, and bone and tooth loss.
 

Crooked teeth can also age your teeth and gums unnecessarily because of all the extra wear and tear it causes. This means more chipping of your teeth and more flattened and worn teeth. You might think you are saving yourself money and time by not getting your crooked teeth fixed, but in the long run you will actually be spending more time and money fixing all the damage caused over time.

4. Better Overall Health

And it is not just your oral health that is put into jeopardy by crooked teeth. Your overall health is too. Dental problems can cause headaches and neck and shoulder pain and periodontal disease has been associated with other problems like heart disease.

5. Keep Your face from “sagging.”

Many older people are concerned that one side of their face (or both sides) seems to be sagging. In some cases this is due to loss of bone or tooth decay. The teeth not only help with chewing, but actually help keep the structure of your face.

6. Look younger and have more self-confidence.

While the benefits of a straighter smile is so much more than aesthetics, it can’t be denied that a beautiful smile can really make a difference in how you see yourself and how others see you as well. When you are no longer worried about hiding the imperfections in your mouth, you will find yourself smiling more which will increase your endorphins thereby making you feel happier. (Your smile will also make others around you feel happier too).
 

You will also feel more confident and find yourself going out for that raise at work or trying a new relationship which you would have never done before. When you are embarrassed about your appearance, you tend to not want to draw attention to yourself and spend most of your time hiding out at home.

 

It's amazing how a healthy, beautiful smile can really transform so many aspects of your life.

If you have been putting off improving your teeth because you're worried that it's too late to correct the problem, the good news is that you can fix your teeth at any age, even in your advanced years.