You’ve probably heard plenty of times that straight teeth are healthy teeth. Not only does having straight teeth project friendliness and boost confidence, but a straight smile actually has many more benefits beyond just the cosmetic pluses. There’s no doubting that a straighter smile can improve your personal and professional life.

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As your Jacksonville orthodontist, we love to see you show off your smile. Whether you’re still in treatment for your dream smile or just got your braces off, there’s plenty of reasons to be happy about straight teeth and a healthy mouth. You’ve probably heard that laughter is the best medicine, but did you know that smiling can actually boost your mood and health? Here’s 12 reasons why you should be showing off those pearly whites all the time:

1. Scientists have found that even if you’re in a bad mood, forcing yourself to smile can help lift your spirits.
2. Studies have shown that it’s nearly impossible to frown while looking at someone who is smiling, it really is contagious!
3. Your body has to work harder to frown than it does to smile.
4. Babies are born with the ability to smile, if they can, anyone can!
5. People can see smiles from 300 feet away, it’s the easiest facial expression to recognize.
6. Research studies have shown that people find women more attractive when they’re smiling than when they’re wearing makeup.
7. Smiling makes you more relaxed, thus improving your immune system and overall health.
8. Smiling releases endorphins that help you reduce stress and feel better.
9. Around the world smiling is a universal sign of happiness.
10. Smiling can use anywhere from 5 to 53 muscles.
11. Need a promotion? Smiling makes people appear more sociable, attractive, confident, and more likely to get promoted.
12. Researchers say there are 19 different types of smiles, so there’s plenty to choose from!

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for kids! Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so it’s never too late to improve your smile. If your teeth are holding you back from a confident smile, give us a call to find a treatment plan that works for you. At Ortega Orthodontics, we love to see our patients showing off their pearly whites.

For most of us, we undergo orthodontic treatment solely for the purpose of having the straight, white smile we’ve always dreamed of. Despite this being an obvious upside to treatment, there are many other physical health benefits. Here’s the top ten, non-cosmetic reasons for visiting your orthodontist:

1. To keep teeth from erupting in the wrong position. When your child receives their routine dental x-ray, you’ll be able to know if their teeth are likely to erupt where they should. If wayward teeth are headed in the wrong direction, your child can receive early orthodontic treatment to guide teeth to their proper positioning before they cause a problem.
2. To correct crowding. Even minor crowding issues can cause problems with oral hygiene and bite alignment, fixing this results in healthier teeth and more comfortable bite.
3. To protect teeth and gums. A misaligned bite can cause teeth, fillings, and crowns to break or become damaged. This can lead to pain and unhealthy gums.
4. To correct an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. Misaligned bites can cause issues with speech, biting, and chewing. A big part of orthodontic treatment is to align the bite so the top and bottom teeth fit together, this is known as occlusion.
5. To prevent jaw pain. Misaligned bites cause your jaw muscles to work harder than they should, which can cause issues such as headaches, lock jaw, muscle spasms, fatigue, or sinus pain.
6. To avoid breathing or swallowing problems. A misaligned mouth can cause snoring and more serious sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.
7. To correct over-spacing. Over-spacing issues from injuries, small teeth, tooth decay, or natural spacing issues can be corrected with treatment.
8. To correct the effects of finger or thumb sucking. These habits from a young age cause issues for bite alignment and the proper positioning of teeth.
9. To prevent heart disease. Poor oral hygiene can cause tartar buildup in the gums which leads to the growth of harmful bacteria that can enter the bloodstream and contribute to cardiovascular disease.
10. To prevent tooth decay. Misaligned teeth can make it difficult to clean every area of your mouth, leaving many spots susceptible to decay.

As you can see, there’s a ton of benefits to choosing orthodontic treatment. Whether it’s early treatment for your kids, traditional treatment for the teens, or adult treatment for you, it’s never too late for a healthier smile. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today, you’ll be happy you did!

At Ortega Orthodontics we know that a straight smile is a healthy smile. If you have been considering seeking orthodontic treatment but haven’t been able to justify straightening your teeth for aesthetic purposes—then think again. As your resource for braces in Jacksonville, we can help you understand the benefits of investing in a healthy smile.

The results of orthodontic treatment will not only improve the aesthetics of your smile and boost your confidence level, but it will also benefit the condition of your overall oral health. Orthodontic treatment can straighten crowded teeth and allow more effective cleaning. It can also help improve your bite, which will help ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth.

As your resource for orthodontics in Jacksonville, Florida we look forward to improving your smile. When your smile looks good you not only feel good but your mouth is healthier too. Contact our office today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Holland or Dr. Schellhase.