The Impact of Straight Teeth on Longevity

The mouth is a window into the health of the body. Most people don’t think of the mouth as an important signifier of good health. But what we don’t often realize is how many symptoms of the systemic disease appear in the mouth. A thorough inspection can detect diabetes, AIDS, and Sjögren’s syndrome. The mouth is home to countless bacteria that are linked with other health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and bacterial pneumonia. Signs of periodontitis can be a warning for pregnant women because it’s linked to preterm and low birth weight babies.

A recent study by Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology journal showed that “those with 20 teeth or more at the age of 70 had a considerably higher chance of living longer than those with less than 20 teeth.” This alone is an important reason to make sure your mouth is healthy. Part of keeping your mouth healthy is making sure you visit your orthodontist.

Straight Teeth Make You Live Longer

Your teeth are in the best position when they are completely straight and aligned. This has many benefits, for one, they are easier to clean. The easier your teeth are to clean, the more consistent your results will be from brushing flossing, etc. Straight teeth help you chew, boost your self-esteem and make it harder for things to get stuck. When your teeth are misaligned it’s easier for food to get wedged into places unreachable by brushing or flossing. When your teeth are clean, you’re overall mouth health improves. When you have great oral health, science shows that your lifespan and quality of life increase. If you’re skeptical, let’s take a look at all the ways your oral health improves your quality of life.

Saliva Protects Against Infection

Part of having healthy straight teeth is the effect it has on your saliva. By keeping your oral health in good condition, you allow your saliva to function properly. Healthy saliva is the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. Once it comes into contact with potentially harmful organisms the antibodies, within the saliva, attempt to neutralize the threat.

Another important protection from saliva is its histatins. Histatins are proteins the prevent the growth of Candida albicans, a naturally occurring fungus. If the fungus is allowed to grow freely, due to weakened saliva health, it can cause serious infections. One such infection is called oral thrush, which can be a sign of other major health problems. Saliva also destroys bacteria by degrading their membranes and preventing their growth.

This prevents bacteria from lingering in your mouth and making their way into your digestive system. The biggest problem with having unhealthy saliva is that you are no longer protected from other harmful organisms.

Prevention of Dental Plaque

As you may have guessed, a healthy mouth prevents the growth of dental plaque. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth. This can lead to a series of health issues that affect long-term health. Plague, over time, can destroy the enamel of your teeth by slowly eating away at it for days, weeks, months, and years. The longer your teeth are under attack from tartar bacteria the greater chance you have to develop harmful disease or loss of teeth.

Keeping your teeth straight helps make sure they are properly cleaned from brushing and flossing. When it comes to oral health, you want to make sure that you have the best odds at long-lasting hygiene.

The Importance of Gum Health

The mouth is the closest link to the inside of your body. Your gums are part of the organic material that is exposed to the outside world every day. Bacteria love to build up onto your gums, and if it’s left untreated, serious infections can develop such as Gingivitis, Periodontitis, and Trench Mouth.

Your gums help prevent bacteria from getting into your bloodstream. When your gums are compromised because of infection and disease, bacteria are able to get into your blood. This, however, isn’t usually an issue for healthy people. But if at any time you suffer from a weakened immune system, the oral bacteria can develop into more serious problems.

Why Seeing An Orthodontist is Urgent

The bottom line is that oral health has a direct link to the overall health of your body. Think of it like this, most of your body is protected by your skin, but your mouth is not. Your mouth is the ideal place for bacteria to thrive, grow, and spread to other parts of the body. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your oral health is in good condition.