Crooked teeth and other dental occlusion issues like overbites and underbites can hurt your self-esteem. As a result, you might develop a social phobia and experience poor mental health. However, the adverse effects of misaligned teeth transcend aesthetics.
For instance, crooked teeth increase the risk of gum disease since they leave gaps between the crown and the gums. Unfortunately, these spaces also allow bacterial growth, making you more susceptible to tooth decay, cavities, and tooth loss.
The best way to curb misalignment is to wear braces. However, traditional braces aren’t so popular because of their appearance, especially among the youth. Instead, they prefer transparent units.
Here are the advantages of invisible braces.
- Inconspicuousness
The most significant benefit of invisible braces is inconspicuousness. As mentioned earlier, traditional metal braces are unpopular because they are easy to spot. Most people who wear them aren’t comfortable smiling in public.
On the contrary, invisible braces aren’t easily noticeable. You’d have to be very keen to spot them because they are clear. In addition, their appearance enables them to disguise themselves with natural teeth. As a result, you can smile in public without others knowing you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Extra comfort
Most invisible braces are removable, making them more comfortable than traditional units. However, the latter have sharp edges that bruise your cheeks and lips, leaving open sores susceptible to infections. Applying wax on the metal frame can help to prevent this problem, but only temporarily. After that, the wax falls off quickly.
Invisible braces are made to fit your teeth. Their edges comprise high-quality resin, which doesn’t hurt your mouth like metal.
Additionally, the custom fit means invisible braces align your teeth faster than traditional models. When fitting your aligners, the dentist prioritises comfort over other elements.
- Better oral hygiene
It’s easier to maintain oral hygiene with invisible braces. Unlike metal brackets, clear aligners don’t trap food particles and plaque. These invite bacterial infections and increase the risk of cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay.
You can remove the aligners with invisible braces and brush your teeth like a normal person. You won’t require any special equipment to remove food particles and plaque.
Furthermore, you can clean the aligner to prevent plaque buildup. Finally, removing your braces while sleeping is advisable – ideally, you should soak them in hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria.
- Zero food limitations
Some people dislike traditional braces because of food limitations. However, the design of metal brackets prevents you from eating some foods, especially those that can damage the frame or wires.
For instance, you can’t eat nuts. Sticky foods like gum and caramel are also prohibited. However, you can eat almost everything without worrying if you have invisible braces.
Fewer dental appointments and quicker recovery
Traditional braces tend to move after some use. For this reason, you need to visit the dentist regularly for adjustments. For example, the dentist might loosen, tighten or change the wire size to ensure they work properly.
On the contrary, you won’t need to visit the dentist often if you have invisible braces. And when you visit, the checkup won’t be intrusive. The dentist will issue a replacement set and assess the condition of your current braces. Unless there’s a problem, they won’t touch your teeth.
Regarding recovery, it takes one year to 18 months for traditional braces to align your teeth. Conversely, invisible braces get the job done within a year after installation.
Wrapping Up
The fear of metal braces shouldn’t condemn you to live with misaligned teeth. Instead, visit your dentist today and get a set of invisible braces. They’re subtle, so people won’t notice you’re getting orthodontic treatment. More importantly, you won’t suffer from food restrictions and will have straight teeth within a year!
