If you are living with crooked, overcrowded, chipped, or broken teeth, you might be considering cosmetic dental procedures to restore your smile. However, you may feel that “there’s no reason to fix my teeth except looking better. I can’t justify the money/time/discomfort for that.” But, there are good reasons to fix your teeth beyond just cosmetic concerns. Many problems that that seem to be merely cosmetic ones can actually affect your oral health and eventually even your overall health.
Dr. Vernon Sheen is an experienced dentist in Annapolis, MD who wants to help restore and preserve your smile. If you want to learn more about the important reasons to fix cosmetic dental problems, read on below for this important information from Dr. Sheen and his team.
Ensure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
When teeth are not aligned properly, they can wear unevenly over time and cause premature tooth decay or pain. Uneven bites are a common cause for excess tooth wear. This condition can be the result of an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, crooked or missing teeth, or even an uneven crown or molding fit.
Excessive tooth wear can cause more serious dental health concerns since teeth can be worn down to the even more sensitive layers beneath the enamel — the dentin — which erodes even faster and is more sensitive than enamel when exposed. If this problem is left untreated, a person’s teeth can be worn down to stumps, meaning that root canals, crowns or even implants or dentures may be necessary to restore the tooth to normal functioning.
Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth can lead to infections and gum disease. Teeth can move in your gums and may become overcrowded. When teeth have shifted too close together, they can crack or fracture. This crowding can cause pain and, if left untreated, eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also more difficult to clean properly. If teeth are not sufficiently cleaned, plaque will begin to build up between teeth and along the gum line and begin to attack the tooth enamel there, eventually becoming gum disease.
As your gums become infected and inflamed, they draw away from your teeth as they swell and cause your teeth to become unstable. Even more distressing: progressive gum disease is linked to seriou systemic health problems such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
Improve Overall Health
As mentioned previously, gum disease is linked to overall health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s. An uneven bite, fractured or overcrowded teeth, or even missing teeth can lead to gum disease simply because they are more difficult to clean. Also, teeth that are painful to use can also lead to you not eating healthy as many nutritious foods require more chewing than some sweet or fatty options. Therefore, correcting what seems like merely a cosmetic problem can actually keep your body healthy and strong.
Improve Your Smile in Annapolis, MD
Dr. Sheen is an experienced dentist who offers many different types of effective treatments to fit your dental needs, both cosmetic and general. Call (443) 482- 5202 or schedule a consultation online to talk to Dr. Sheen about boosting your confidence with a healthy smile!