Have you been living with crooked, chipped, overcrowded, broken, or even missing teeth? Have you considered cosmetic dentistry but couldn’t find a better reason beyond wanting to fix how your smile looks? You might be surprised to learn that there are several health-related, non-cosmetic reasons you should restore your smile. Issues that seem merely cosmetic can actually affect your oral health, and even your overall health.
Dr. Pamela Cain is an experienced, compassionate dentist in Knoxville, TN who can help restore and preserve your smile. Learn about some of the most important reasons to fix dental problems from Dr. Cain’s team below.
Ensure Your Teeth Wear Evenly
If teeth are not aligned properly, over time they will wear unevenly and cause premature tooth decay or pain. A common cause for excess tooth wear is an uneven bite, which could be the result of an overbite, underbite, a jaw injury, crooked or missing teeth, or even an uneven crown or molding fit.
Excess tooth wear can lead to several more serious dental health concerns because teeth can be worn down to the more sensitive layers beneath the enamel, called the dentin, and dentin erodes even faster and more painfully than enamel once it’s exposed. If left untreated, a person’s teeth can be worn down to their stumps, meaning that bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and even dentures may be necessary to remedy the issue.
Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
Overcrowded or crooked teeth may be a sign of deeper problems beneath the gums. Teeth can shift in your mouth and may become overcrowded if there’s no room for them to go. When teeth have moved too close together, they can crack or fracture. This crowding of your teeth can bring on pain and, if left untreated, eventually infection.
Crooked, chipped, or broken teeth are also challenging to clean. If teeth are not cleaned properly, plaque will form between teeth and along the gum line and begin to erode tooth enamel. Also, your gums can become infected and inflamed, pulling away from your teeth and causing them to be less stable. What’s more, progressive gum disease is linked to systemic health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Improve Overall Health
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 due to the fact that they are more difficult to clean. Correcting what seems like a cosmetic problem can actually keep your body healthy.
Improve Your Smile in Knoxville, TN
Dr. Cain is an experienced dentist who offers many different types of conservative, effective treatments to fit your needs. Schedule a consultation with our office today to keep your smile healthy and your confidence high!
