How Can Widely Spaced Teeth Impact Your Overall Health

LAST UPDATED: MARCH 28, 2017

Most people think of orthodontic issues such as widely spaced teeth as purely an appearance issue, but treating widely spaced teeth can have deeper, more life changing (and potentially life saving) benefits. Besides providing you the confidence of a beautiful, straight smile, correcting widely spaced teeth can provide significant benefits to your overall health. These health benefits start with the obvious, better oral health. Widely spaced teeth can lead to a greater change of bacteria buildup (plaque and tartar), which in turn can lead to the following (and more serious) oral health problems:

• Gingivitis/Gum Disease
• Tooth Decay/Tooth Loss
• Bad Breath/Mouth Sores

FAQ

What is Gingivitis?

Widely spaced teeth can lead to more serious dental problems down the road, including oral conditions as serious as periodontal disease. When your teeth or widely spaced, pockets of plaque and tartar can build up more easily, leading to gingivitis, and if untreated, lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, and the deep cleaning and other periodontal maintenance this issue requires, can be potentially avoided with teeth straightening.

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is another oral health problem that can be caused by widely spaced teeth. Like with periodontal disease, widely spaced teeth can create difficulties controlling bacteria. Subsequent tooth decay resulting from widely spaced teeth can potentially lead to tooth loss.

What are Mouth Sores?

Along with the serious oral health conditions such as gingivitis, gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, other oral health issues can be caused by widely spaced teeth. The bacteria buildup caused by the widely spaced teeth can lead to bad breath.

What is Bacteria Buildup?

Properly straightened teeth can help reduce the buildup of bacteria (along with other preventative oral health measures, such as proper brushing and flossing, along with lifestyle choices such as avoiding tobacco use, a balanced diet low in sugars, and reduced alcohol intake). As you can see, the oral health of yourself and your family can be improved significantly through correction of widely spaced teeth.

Serious Health Conditions Related to Untreated Gum Disease

In studies conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA), the following serious health conditions have been found to be related to untreated periodontal disease:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Pneumonia

Heart Disease

Untreated periodontal disease can lead to health problems down the road that go beyond the mouth. The American Dental Association has conducted studies showing that untreated infections of the mouth (such as periodontal disease) can lead to heart disease. This is due to the fact that inflammation of the gums by bacteria is damaging to the circulatory system. This fact alone should make you consider preventative care of your gums, as heart disease is America’s number one cause of death. While the changes of developing heart diseases from bad gum health alone is rare, the risk can be eliminated by taking care of threats to gum health before they even happen.

Stroke

As with heart disease, the American Dental Association has found a relationship between untreated periodontal disease and the risk of stroke. While other lifestyle choices play a bigger part in your stroke risk, preventative oral health treatments are a great way to reduce your stroke risk.

Diabetes

The ADA has also found untreated gum disease can lead to diabetes. Diabetes has been found to lead to other serious health conditions, like heart disease and stroke. As all three of these serious, life threatening conditions have been shown to have a relationship with untreated gum disease, you have all the more reason to seek preventative orthodontia care to mitigate these risks.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia, a common cause of death among the elderly (and sometimes, even younger), has also been found by the ADA to have a relationship with untreated gum disease. As you can see, the whole plethora of health problems can come from bad oral health, a risk factor all too many people forgot to consider when making beneficial choices about their overall health.

The oral health of yourself and your family is obviously something you want to take seriously. As seen above, widely spaced teeth can potentially lead to oral health problems such as gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. In turn, periodontal disease can lead to even more serious health conditions down road, life threatening health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pneumonia.

While lifestyle factors (such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, balanced and healthy diet, exercise) play a big part in preventing this health problems, preventative care of oral health problems provides additional protection and risk mitigation.

Teeth straightening, either with braces or with Invisalign, can correct widely spaced teeth, and greatly increase your overall health. The orthodontist professionals at Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics in Larkspur, CA can provide you and your family with both braces or Invisalign treatment for your widely spaced teeth.

Learn More about Orthodontia at Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics

Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics is located in Larkspur, Calif., in Marin County. There are three experts at our facility who can determine if you need to wear aligners or braces. Schedule an appointment with an orthodontist:

• Dr. Bill Schmohl
• Dr. Jasmine Gorton

To make your orthodontic treatment more personalized or faster, you can choose to use the Acceledent or WowSmiles systems along with these devices:

• WildSmiles
• Damon Clear
• Invisalign
• Retainers

Visit Gorton and Schmol Orthodontics today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how the Invisalign system can help you.

Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics
900 Larkspur Landing Circle,Suite 200 Larkspur CA 94939 Tel: (415)-459-8006

How Can Widely Spaced Teeth Impact Your Overall Health