Josh

People may readily equate orthodontic treatments like Invisalign London with aesthetic benefits more than they would with quality of life, but the teeth-straightening process offers incredible benefits that have positive impacts in a myriad of ways.

In fact, a winning smile is considered one of the best gifts one can bestow on oneself that benefits the physical, mental and psychosocial bodies. And for a smile to be found attractive, it has to meet a few critical requirements: the teeth need to be in correct alignment and free of imperfections such as staining, discolouration, chip, cracks and gaps.

For staining and discolouration issues, teeth straightening treatments using braces can focus on correcting these dental imperfections. Modern braces that offer convenience and comfort have become a sought-after cosmetic dental treatment amongst adults, with dental practices seeing a tremendous rise in the demand for adult orthodontics. The British Dental Journal reports that 75% of dental clinics revealed they had witnessed a surge in demand for teeth straightening from their patients.

Negative consequences of a less-than-pleasing smile

An unattractive smile, whether misaligned or gap-toothed, poses a risk to dental health. It is a fact long-known by dental professionals that orthodontic issues significantly contribute to poor oral hygiene control. Teeth that are not in proper alignment are simply challenging to keep clean. This is why dental practitioners see it as a matter of urgency that patients with orthodontic problems resolve these issues to help keep their mouths disease and decay-free.

If oral hygiene is not maintained properly, the likelihood is that the individual experiences tooth decay and gum disease at some point due to the overwhelming presence of harmful oral bacteria in the mouth. There is a second concern attached to this unwanted situation; bad bacteria originating in the oral cavity have been found to escape the mouth and enter the bloodstream, via which they end up clogging veins and arteries.

Bad oral bacteria have been scientifically linked with all sorts of life-threatening complications, such as strokes, heart attacks, pneumonia and cancers.

An unattractive smile has the potential to hurt one’s job search. A pleasing smile is an initial opportunity to make a great first impression, as it demonstrates confidence, warmth, approachability and trustworthiness. Confidence is not only a much-admired trait in general but also a sought-after quality in particular by HR managers. HR managers are more likely to favour candidates with attractive smiles as they are deemed to be intelligent, capable and leaders.

Tied in with one’s ability to get hired, it is not difficult to tie together one’s earning potential with the confidence to sport an attractive grin. Attaining success is made all the more challenging for those who feel embarrassed or awkward about their smiles.

Then there are the disadvantages to psychosocial welfare to consider. Social success is made easier if one has a smile others are drawn to. Whether one has professional aspirations or needs to boost one’s social attractiveness, a great smile plays a hugely significant role in achieving them.

Are you looking into your orthodontic options? Perhaps you’ve been told a dental misalignment is causing disruptive complications? Have you considered the role of clear aligners like Invisalign London, in providing treatment without the complications and disruption associated with traditional metal braces? This article explores the everyday practicality of clear aligners.

The feeling of wearing invisible aligners

There’s an awful lot available online explaining how invisible aligners work, but what does it actually feel like to use, both within design and day to day?

The good news is that everyday use of these aligners is pretty uneventful. You wake up wearing your aligner, and remove it for the morning tooth brushing and flossing ritual, giving it a brief rinse in lukewarm tap water before replacing it. Every time you eat, you take out your aligner and it is recommended that you briefly rinse it and that you use mouthwash before returning it. Once the aligner is in place, it stops the natural flow of saliva over your teeth. This creates a microenvironment for bacteria to multiply without a normal cleaning mechanism, making it particularly important for you to wash or brush before replacing your aligner.

On a side note, the aligners might be translucent and practically invisible to wear every day but any buildup of plaque inside them or food debris is not. Not only does this make your orthodontic tool less effective, but it is also far more noticeable.

Professional life Impact

Starting with the first priority (everyone has to work at the end of the day), clear aligners almost always go unnoticed, especially when it comes to online meetings. Even in 4K resolution, the subtlety of the aligner, its closeness to the teeth and its translucency help. When used properly, the aligners fit tightly to the teeth, causing no risk of them coming loose or any awkward facial movements associated with loose dentures that could give away your use of an orthodontic tool.

In meetings and presentations where there also seems to be very little chance of them getting noticed, it does occasionally come up in one-to-one conversations, usually in more quiet corners of the office or at the water cooler. The change in shininess of the surface of the teeth can give a hint, and prompt a few questions although usually far more out of curiosity than anything else.

Personal life impact

Concerning your interpersonal life, particularly in dating, it’s probably best to preempt any notice from your date or partner by explaining that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment and getting a polite shocked ‘I had no idea!’. Even in the most passionate of moments, clear aligners do not have these sharp edges or complicated wire brackets that can make kissing concerning. So they do not come with the awkwardness of fitted braces!

In photos, even rather close selfies with clear aligners, they will only come across as an increased shininess on your teeth, and are more likely to hide imperfections than seem like one themselves. In a similar fashion as getting lipstick on your teeth, lipstick on aligners will adhere well, so a little caution when applying is warranted.

Sleep is one of the most important things that we can provide our bodies with. If we hope to have enough energy throughout the day and keep our immune system strong, good sleep is a must. Yet, as we get older, getting a good night’s sleep can become more challenging than during our younger years. For that reason, it’s important to practice healthy habits.

Yet knowing that you should be practicing healthy habits and actually doing them are not the same thing. If you find yourself waking up the next morning, after a lousy night’s sleep, here are some of the potential reasons why you may not be sleeping well at night.

Alcohol

For many people, a glass of wine in the evening is a way to wind down and make you feel an extra boost of drowsiness before going to bed. Yet, one glass too many can interrupt your sleep patterns and leave you feeling out of whack. Ideally, you should avoid alcohol before bedtime, since it can significantly lower your overall quality of sleep.

According to experts, you shouldn’t be drinking more than three units of alcohol a week, or abstaining from it altogether. If you’re drinking a significant amount of alcohol before bed every night, then it’s likely the culprit for your drowsiness. Try cutting alcohol out of your diet for 10 days, and notice whether your sleep patterns change.

Lack of Exercise

If you lay your head down at night and find that you’re not tired whatsoever, it may be because your body isn’t moving enough. The more that we move our bodies throughout the day, the more our bodies will feel ready to rest.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and it will start to make a significant difference in how ready your body is to sleep at night. If it feels like it’s lacking some kind of movement, then your brain will still remain “on.” The great news is that exercise can come in many different forms. Whether it’s walking, running, or dancing in your living room, try to get into the habit of moving more, and your quality of sleep will significantly change.

You Need a New Bed

Perhaps you’re practicing all the right habits, and your sleep is still a problem. In that case, the problem may have nothing to do with you— you may be sleeping on a poor quality mattress that needs to be replaced. Mattresses were not built to last 30 years, in fact, even the best mattresses usually start to wear out after about 10 years. So, if you have a mediocre quality mattress, with springs poking out in odd places, or uneven surfaces, then it may be a pretty big sign that your poor sleep has to do with what you’re sleeping on.