It is quite common to see children and teenagers wearing braces to correct their bites and straighten teeth, but adults can also benefit from having braces as an orthodontic treatment. In this post, our BC orthodontists share five benefits of getting braces as an adult, and why you may want to consider them.
The Advantages of Braces on Adults
Many adults are hesitant to get braces because they can seem like a treatment that is meant for children, or because they aren't too keen on how they will look. Having braces, even as an adult, can provide a significant number of advantages, and the pros far outweigh the cons at the end of the day.
Although braces may not be the most convenient treatment for an adult, with the successful completion of the process, patients often find that it was well worth it. Below, our team of orthodontists share a few reasons why you may want to consider getting adult braces, and a variety of oral health issues that can benefit from this orthodontic treatment option.
Braces Can Boost Self-Confidence
When people think of braces, they often think of them being used to straighten crooked or gapped teeth. While they can provide a variety of other benefits, straightening your smile can play a big role when it comes to your self-esteem.
Once your treatment is completed, your teeth should appear significantly straighter than before. You will then be left with a smile you can be proud to show off, allowing you to smile more and increase your confidence!
If you find yourself self-conscious about the way your teeth look, consider getting braces to help give you the smile that you've been looking for.
Braces Can Fix Your Bite
If you have alignment issues, you may experience jaw pain frequently or notice you have a harder time eating and speaking. This orthodontic treatment for adults can be used to resolve alignment issues such as overbite and underbite, leaving you with a nice, even smile.
A misaligned bite can also prevent adults from smiling when taking pictures or just throughout their everyday life. By fixing these issues with braces, you may find yourself smiling more often due to your new smile's appearance.
Treating misalignment issues can also reduce the amount of pressure on your jaw bone when eating or chewing. If this is not treated, it can lead to a variety of other oral health concerns, including jaw bone erosion later in your life.
They Can Improve Your Oral Health
If you have misalignment issues with your teeth, you are more likely to deal with issues such as oral diseases. Misaligned teeth can make it much harder to thoroughly clean certain areas of your teeth and gums. This can eventually lead to gingivitis and a variety of other oral health diseases.
If oral health diseases or infections get into your bloodstream, they can cause a threat to not just your oral health, but your body's overall health and well-being. After having your teeth and bite straightened, you should be able to provide much better care for your teeth to help improve your oral health.
Your Speech Can Benefit From Braces
Although it may not necessarily seem like an issue that can be repaired by braces, but your speech is another component that can benefit from having straighter teeth and an aligned bite. Pronunciation is executed by the combination of the teeth, lips, and tongue, so if your teeth are misaligned, it can be extremely difficult for you to pronounce certain words.
Your tongue moving against your teeth play a key role in how you might pronounce certain words. Misaligned teeth can interfere with this, causing certain words or sounds to come out in a bit of an odd way. For example, these issues are often the culprit behind people whistling when they speak, especially when pronouncing the 's' sound.
Braces Can Fix Your Bad Breath
If your teeth are misaligned that's causing your oral hygiene to suffer, germs and bacteria will begin to build in your mouth. Over time, the germs and bacteria will begin to multiply, causing you to have bad breath. This will eventually lead to tooth decay as well.
Although visiting your dentist for thorough hygiene cleanings can help this issue, if your teeth remain misaligned, the problem will continue to return every so often. By straightening your teeth, you can have better access to those hard-to-reach places in your mouth. This results in you being better able to provide the oral hygiene your smile needs, and will reduce the amount of bad breath that you experience.
Getting rid of your bad breath is another factor in improving your self-confidence. Braces can play a role in fixing this issue whether you are a child, teen, or adult!