Go to any middle school and you’ll be able to spot dozens of kids wearing metal in their mouths. However, you’re much less likely to spot a row of braces-lined teeth at the next office meeting. Because you don’t see them on adults very often, it’s easy to think of braces as only a kid thing. However, you might be surprised at how many adults are wearing braces that you just can’t see, either because they’re made of clear plastic or because they consist of brackets that are attached to the back of the teeth instead of the front. There are good reasons why more adults are choosing orthodontic work.
The Advantages of a Straighter Smile
Sure, you could have figured out on your own that when adults opt for braces, it’s because they want a straighter smile. But why? Often it’s for the advantages that a straighter smile brings in your professional and personal life.
You may not realize it, but crooked teeth can really hold you back. In surveys and studies, people consistently rate adults with straighter smiles as being more trustworthy. A nice smile is more likely to get you hired and promoted. And it’s also more likely to get you a second date. Basically, a straight smile gives you an edge over the competition.
The Easy Maintenance of Straight Teeth
Keeping your teeth clean is important, and not just for aesthetic reasons. Tooth infections can lead to all kinds of serious consequences, including heart disease. And guess what? Straight teeth are easier to keep clean than crooked teeth.
When your teeth are crooked, it’s easier to get bits of food caught between them, and harder to get it out. It’s more difficult to brush all your tooth surfaces if some of your teeth overlap, even slightly. And you may have trouble flossing if two of your teeth are too close together. Orthodontic work can give you teeth that are easier to clean, which can lead to overall better health.
The Health of Your Gums
You think of your teeth as being permanently fixed in your mouth, but the truth is that they tend to shift over your lifetime – even after your permanent teeth have all grown in. That’s why you may find yourself with crooked teeth even if you didn’t need braces as a child – or why you may need braces again, even if you already had them as a child.
What can happen over time is that your shifting teeth will actually pull away from your gums. If the problem gets too severe, you may need gum surgery. Correcting the shift with braces can prevent more serious problems.
If you’re concerned about crooked teeth, don’t hesitate to consider adult braces. Braces no longer have to be visible and obvious, and the benefits of straightening your teeth are well worth the effort.
