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In a perfect world, everybody would get braces during childhood, when it’s standard to have orthodontic work. Even if you made it through adulthood without any orthodontic treatments, it’s never too late to fix crowded or misaligned bites.
Getting braces as an adult is a big decision many people make every day. In fact, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, one out of five orthodontic patients is over the age of 18.
Depending on the current state of your oral health, there many different treatment routes you could take for a straighter smile. If you don’t find traditional metal braces appealing, you could try invisible, lingual, or ceramic braces.
3 Reasons to Get Invisible Braces as an Adult
Orthodontic treatments not only have cosmetic benefits, but they can also improve your physical and emotional health.
1. Straight Teeth for Your Oral Health. Improper bites can cause chewing problems, facial pain, and trap food in-between your teeth. When food gets stuck in nooks and crannies of your smile, it directly leads to tooth decay and gum disease. Thus, the older you get, the more important orthodontics become for your smile.
2. Straight Smile for Your Self-Esteem. It’s easy to obsess over imperfections in your smile. Fortunately, a beautiful smile is easy to achieve with modern orthodontics. Braces can straighten out your teeth, and help you feel confident smiling more often. Smiling more often literally changes your brain activity.
When you smile, it releases molecules called neuropeptides that combat the stress hormone. They also release dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which are nicknamed the “feel good hormones.” These neurotransmitters are proven to lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Thus, smiling makes you feel happier, which raises your self-esteem.
3. A Better Public Image with Straight Teeth. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world, where imperfect smiles are ridiculed. At the same time, a beautiful smile can make all the difference in how you’re perceived by the world. According to research by Webster University, when it comes to making yourself more approachable, a confident smile is more important than good looks.
There’s truth to the phrase “smiles are contagious.” Studies conducted in both Upsalla, Sweden and Penn State University discovered that people who smile usually come off as more likable and courteous. Data als revealed that it’s exceptionally difficult to remain frowning when looking at someone smiling.
The Benefits of Clear Braces
Invisalign makes it easier to defend against tooth decay and gum disease. Unlike traditional metal braces, you’re able to remove your Invisalign to continue brushing and flossing like usual. Traditional braces may leave discoloration where the brackets are glued on your teeth
When it comes to smiling more often, your best bet is to go with invisible braces. Metal braces can be bulky and distracting as an adult, especially if you’re often in a professional setting. Unfortunately, metal brackets and colored rubber bands don’t blend into a conference room. Traditional braces also tend to leave discoloration where the brackets are glued on your teeth
Invisalign makes it easier to defend against tooth decay and gum disease. Unlike traditional metal braces, you’re able to remove your Invisalign to continue brushing and flossing like usual.
Thinking Twice About Adult Braces
There are a few reasons you shouldn’t undergo orthodontic treatments as an adult. Some few illnesses and medical conditions can conflict with orthodontic treatment. For instance, if you have severe heart disease, leukemia, unregulated diabetes, or bleeding disorders, you should consult your doctor before getting adult braces. These illnesses cause inflamed gums, and orthodontia can exacerbate gum tenderness.
Bone disorders, like osteoporosis and arthritis, may also deter you from getting adult braces. Medicine used to combat these disorders make it difficult for teeth to shift under pressure.
You should also be weary of orthodontic treatments If you take medications that cause dry mouth. Dry mouth can make your treatment exceedingly uncomfortable and elevate your chances of tooth decay.
Gum disease can also make it difficult to have a successful orthodontic treatments. More severe gum disease in adults can weaken your jaw bone. Orthodontic treatments work by gently moving teeth and jawbone. Putting too much pressure on an already weakened jawbone can cause lasting damage. Orthodontic treatments can also make it harder for you to fight gum disease, because they trap bacteria on your teeth and gums.
Length of Braces Treatment
You should also keep in mind that orthodontic treatments as an adult might take longer than children. While it usually varies from case to case, treatments usually last about 2 years. However, with clear braces, you can undergo orthodontic treatment in a subtle way with big results.
Clear braces are gentle, virtually painless, and effective. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about 75% of patients with adult braces felt a positive change in their careers and personal relationships.
Traveling with Invisalign
If you like to travel and leave your hometown for long periods of time, you should talk to your orthodontist ahead of time. This way, you can plan your treatment around your travels. You’ll be able to get your aligners ahead of time and get backup aligners, in case you lose or damage on in your travels.
You should also make sure you bring the appropriate materials to take care of your trays. Carrying a travel toothbrush and flossers will make it easy for you to tend to your oral health, even if you don’t have time to unpack in a hotel. You should also keep a bottle of water around, so you can rinse your mouth and your trays, even when you don’t have access to a faucet.
Hand sanitizer is another good material, so you can clean your hands when removing and replacing your Invisalign trays.
Choose Christie Park Dental for Clear Braces
You’re never too old for an orthodontic treatment – especially if it will make you smile more and help your oral health in the long run. If you want a more beautiful and healthier smile, call Dr. Hughes at Christie Park Dental today for an Invisalign consultation at 647-795-5806.
