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| Orthodontics Are for Adults, Too! |
As an adult, orthodontics can help you to look and feel better. Many people assume that braces are only for kids and once you reach adulthood they are no longer necessary. The truth is that braces can be helpful at any age.
When teeth are crooked, they can create a variety of health issues that extend far beyond physical appearance. For example, a misaligned bite occurs when the upper and lower teeth do not fit together like they are supposed to. This can create jaw pain, promote teeth grinding, make it difficult to eat and negatively impact speech patterns. Oftentimes, people with TMJ suffer symptoms due to a misaligned bite that, once corrected by braces, goes away.
Additionally, crooked teeth are more susceptible to becoming infected due to how easy it is for food and bacteria to become trapped in between them. Severely crooked teeth are very difficult to clean which can lead to cavities. By simply straightening them with orthodontics, teeth can become healthier.
The Importance of a Beautiful Smile
Straightening teeth is an important step in creating a beautiful smile. Recently, studies have shown how important a beautiful smile is. Match.com polled 5,000 men and women and found that a smile is the number one thing that makes a person attractive. Oral-B did more in-depth research and found that when someone had a beautiful smile they were thought to be 20 percent more attractive than those without. The reason these studies matter is that the University of California conducted research into how being considered attractive can impact a person’s life. The results were very enlightening. People that were “attractive” made 12 percent more money than their peers. They were also viewed as being a better team player and more helpful overall. To put it all together – people with beautiful smiles are more attractive and attractive people are more successful. This may sound like a reach, but the data is clear.
As an adult, you may not be concerned with your outward appearance but apparently the rest of society is, and there are clear benefits for taking care of yourself. If this doesn't feel particularly relevant, there are health benefits associated with orthodontics that can make wearing braces worth it.
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to straighten teeth, now. Traditional metal braces are still the most effective for aligning a jaw and closing an open bite. Rubber bands are typically required to help teeth move into place, and the braces provide the anchor those bands need. Those that don’t want to wear metal braces can try Invisalign®. This is a clear way to straighten teeth that is perfect for people that have busy schedules or don’t want people to notice that they are having their teeth straightened. If teeth are not responding to traditional orthodontics, oral surgery is also an option for correcting a tooth or two. To learn which option is best for you, schedule a consultation.
