It’s a common myth that unless you have your teeth corrected during childhood you are stuck with the way they look for life, but this isn’t true. Many adults now benefit from orthodontic treatments they weren’t able to get at an early age, and they can do much more for you than just improve your smile.
Improved Dental Health
There are a number of ways in which orthodontic treatment will improve your overall dental health. If you have crowded teeth, for example, your teeth will be more prone to cavities because it can be more difficult to keep them clean. Straight teeth don’t just look attractive, they also minimise the number of crevices where plaque can gather and potentially lead to periodontal disease, tooth decay and possibly even tooth loss.
A secondary benefit of orthodontic treatments is that they improve your dental health by encouraging you to be more vigilant with cleaning your teeth, as well as avoiding food and drink items that are damaging to your braces and teeth.
Confidence Boost
An improved smile is often what leads many of us to seek orthodontic treatment as adults. Properly aligned teeth give your face symmetry by bringing all your features into proportion and the result from the treatment is a guaranteed confidence boost.
The idea of being seen wearing braces might be putting you off from seeking orthodontic treatment but thanks to advances in technology there are a number of different braces you can have fitted that will have a minimal cosmetic impact. Ceramic, lingual and invisible braces all offer a discreet way of aligning your teeth without being visually imposing.
Unlike traditional metal braces, ceramic braces are made from a composite material which mimics the look of natural teeth and the colour of the braces can be matched to the colour of your teeth, making them an inconspicuous option for orthodontic treatment.
Lingual braces are even more subtle because they are placed on the back of your teeth, meaning others are none the wiser about your orthodontic treatment. They do require some adjustment time, especially for getting used to speaking with them in, but unlike ceramic braces, there will be no visible of evidence that you are wearing them.
Modern orthodontic treatments also have the advantage of being more stain resistant than traditional braces, ensuring that the result of your treatment is a straight and aligned smile without affecting the colour of your teeth.
Improved Dental Function
It’s easy to take a good bite and proper dental function for granted, but misaligned teeth can have a tremendous impact on the overall wear and tear of your teeth, your jaw function, and even lead to neck and back pain. Orthodontic treatment will correct these issues by improving the function of your jaw and your chewing – by ensuring that your teeth are properly aligned and that you have an even bite.
If you suffer from malocclusion-related migraines then correcting your teeth can have a positive impact on these too. The strain that misaligned or crooked teeth place on your jaw can easily travel to your back and neck and even induce painful migraines. So, by correcting your teeth, you can help remove one of the contributing causes of your migraines.
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