Many patients don’t realize that taking care of their oral health can create a positive chain reaction of wellness throughout the body. Still, all dental professionals have the opportunity to educate their patients on oral-systemic health– how oral health impacts other bodily systems. In this blog, we touch on how orthodontic treatment can positively impact cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, and mental health so that your patients can understand and soak up the benefits of orthodontic treatment.
Cardiovascular Health
Experts at Harvard report that people with gum disease have two to three times the risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other severe cardiovascular conditions. Thankfully, patients that choose clear aligner therapy gain a significant long-term health benefit: periodontal disease prevention.
Crooked teeth allow plaque and food to become easily trapped between teeth, which helps periodontal disease-causing bacteria multiply and infect the gingival tissue over time. One of the primary purposes of orthodontic treatment is to even out misalignment so that they are easier to clean through daily brushing and flossing.
Musculoskeletal Health
Bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues work together to support our body’s weight and help us move. However, temporomandibular joints can become dysfunctional when the teeth strain from excessive pressure, which forces the jaw to become imbalanced– the TMJ relies on balance. Otherwise, joint inflammation and damage may occur. Clear aligner treatment can gently move teeth into a more natural and comfortable position, which reduces the strain on the tempormandibular joints.
Digestive Health
Severe misalignment can have a serious impact on how well someone can chew and digest food. A crossbite, overbite, or underbite, can make eating more challenging. Although the issue usually isn’t the act of chewing itself but instead not being able to produce small enough fragments of food to digest easily. Large pieces of food that make their way to the stomach cannot be digested properly, which can result in:
- Difficulty feeling satiated
- Irritable bowels
- Intestinal distress
When patients go through the orthodontic process, their smiles become more aligned, and all teeth can work together to chew properly. This increases the chance of correctly chewed food entering the stomach. Thus, diminishing the frequency of intestinal discomfort and distress.
Mental Health
Outside of the physical advantages, orthodontics can boost mental health by improving self-esteem. When people struggle with crooked, gapped, or have other flaws that they are not proud of, these individuals feel shy or uncomfortable about smiling.
Clear aligners can correct a wide range of imperfections. In turn, orthodontics can help people feel more in tune and content with their appearance. In fact, a study conducted by the Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences reported that orthodontic treatment could significantly increase mental health status in patients and also improve multidimensional attitudes towards body image. Now, that is something worth smiling about.
Become an Orthosnap Partner Today
Orthosnap provides everything patients and doctors need for a seamless experience for both parties. Our services include:
- Comprehensive consultations with our representatives
- 24/7 customer service
- Training and product updates
- Online portal for case tracking
- Customed plans with objectives set by the practice
- Marketing support
- Custom packaging
- Educational materials for doctors and patients
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your dental practice. Contact our team today at (516) 506-7606 or conveniently online to learn more.