Braces: They’re Not Just For Kids

If your teeth aren’t perfectly straight and you have teeth overlapping one another or a very overcrowded mouth, it can be a serious knock to your confidence. But even more importantly, overcrowded or crooked teeth can also make it much harder to keep up with good dental hygiene, making it impossible to floss in the tight areas and difficult to reach hidden parts of your teeth with your toothbrush.

Whether you had braces as a child and your teeth went back to their natural state, or have never had any orthodontic procedures to straighten your teeth before, the good news is that braces aren’t just for kids – there are plenty of adult options available to choose from like clear braces.

Let’s take a look at some of our options… 

Traditional Braces:

Traditional or ‘train track’ braces are comprised of a metal wire that pushes and pulls your teeth into place. While these options might be the most popular with teenagers, many adults are opting for them due to the fact that they tend to be the most effective option for straightening teeth that are very crooked. If your mouth is very overcrowded, you may need to have some teeth extracted in order to make room for your remaining teeth to move into as they straighten. A consultation with a good orthodontist will help you determine if this is the right kind of brace for you and how to get the best results. 

Clear Braces:

If you would like a traditional wire brace but don’t like the idea of wearing metal braces for a couple of years or more, invisible clear braces could be an ideal option. The best clear aligners offer a solution that isn’t exactly permanent in the way metal braces are but work just as great. These work in a similar way to traditional metal braces, except the wire is held into place by clear, rather than metal fixers that are attached to your teeth. This makes the clear braces much less obvious when you smile, although it’s important to be careful to avoid staining foods and beverages like curry or coffee, which can leave your braces a nasty brown or yellow color. Similar to metal braces, you may be required to have some teeth extracted before you can have the clear braces fitted to straighten your teeth. 

Removable Aligners:

For people who do not need to have any teeth extracted and would like an option that is less permanent than a fixed metal brace, night time clear aligners could be an ideal option. This article from ALIGNERCO looks at clear braces vs. wire braces. They can provide a range of different brace options to suit your needs. ALIGNERCO will first take impressions of your mouth to provide you with removable aligners that you will be required to wear at night and throughout the day wherever you can for a certain amount of time to push your teeth into place. Since you can remove the braces, they are ideal for professionals who do not always want their braces to be visible. You can also remove them for eating and cleaning your teeth, making them easier to maintain than metal brace options. 

Hidden Braces:

If you would like the effectiveness of a fixed metal brace but prefer not to have them on show like clear braces, you may be able to get braces that are fixed to the back, rather than the front of your teeth. This is an ideal option since the braces are doing their job but hidden away. However, not everybody may be able to get this type of brace; if you have an overbite, this will need to be corrected first, as this will only make the brace uncomfortable for you to wear, and you could be at risk of biting it off accidentally. 

Retainers:

Whatever type of brace you opt for, there’s a high chance that you will need to wear retainers to keep your teeth in their straight position. You may need to continue wearing retainers for some years, or even for the rest of your life. Retainers are usually clear, plastic guards that go over your teeth at night while you sleep to prevent them from moving back to their original position and undoing all the brace’s hard work. In addition to keeping your teeth straight, your retainers can also help to improve the condition of your teeth, especially if you grind them at night. 

Choosing the Right Brace for You!

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but you will need to consider a number of factors such as how much work you need doing on your teeth, how visible you want the braces to be, and whether you would prefer to remove your brace. Fixed braces are usually the best option for anybody who needs serious correction, while removable night-time aligners are ideal if you only have a couple of teeth that you’d like to be straighter. Speak to an orthodontist to discuss your options and find the right one for you. 

Braces aren’t just for kids! Getting braces as an adult is less scary than you think and with so many invisible and clear braces options available, more and more adults are choosing to get straighter teeth this way.