Can Invisalign help to prevent gum disease?

Can Invisalign help to prevent gum disease?

Invisalign Bothell

Although some people are born with straight teeth, many others aren’t so lucky. Most people find themselves with some degree of misalignment of their teeth. This has obvious cosmetic implications, and a person’s self-esteem and confidence can be affected. In addition, straight teeth can have an impact on the health of your teeth and gums. If you’re hoping to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible, then it’s important to consider alignment.

Straight teeth may help to prevent gum disease

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the US. It’s caused by the growth of bacteria. This leads to inflammation of the gums, and slowly destroys the tissues that keep the teeth anchored in the mouth.

In people whose teeth are not aligned well, there are often spaces in the mouth that are very hard, or even impossible, to clean well. For example, if you have two teeth that overlap significantly, then you may not be able to clean effectively in between them. Bacteria will grow in this space, which can then lead to the development of gum disease. Straightening the teeth can help to prevent this issue.

What if you already have gum disease?

If you’re hoping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, then getting orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth may be a great idea. However, if you already have gum disease, then you may need to wait to get your Invisalign. In people with active gum disease, orthodontic treatment can sometimes accelerate bone loss. It’s better to treat the gum disease first, and once it’s stable, then you can consider getting Invisalign.

For people with a history of gum disease, Invisalign is likely to be a better option than braces for straightening teeth. It can be very hard to clean around braces, and bacteria can easily start to build up. Because Invisalign is completely removable, oral hygiene during your treatment is much easier. This helps to remove any bacterial growth and prevent tooth decay and gum disease from developing during your treatment time.

Invisalign Bothell

If you have any concerns about the alignment of your teeth, it’s best to address these in order to protect your long-term oral health. If you’re considering getting Invisalign, then we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mulliken. He puts his patients at ease through his warm and friendly manner, and his excellent technical skills allow him to get great results for his patients. Please contact our office to schedule your appointment.