Did you know that a study by the American Association of Orthodontists concluded that about a third of adults in the United States aren’t happy with their smile? 36% of those surveyed said that they’d feel more comfortable in social settings if they could correct their teeth.
Crooked teeth also affect a person’s perceived level of success. The survey concluded that over 78% of respondents correlate bad teeth with professional failure.
Many people struggle with their teeth and often get braces to correct their imperfections. Keep reading to find out when and why braces are needed.
Braces for Children or Adults
The first question most families or individuals will have on their mind when thinking about braces is, when is the right time to get braces? The time varies depending on the alignment of the teeth.
Most dental professionals suggest that children get an evaluation for braces around age seven. Children won’t typically need braces that young but an examination of their teeth can help determine any issues they might have and give an estimate of the best time to start preparing for braces.
Braces are also becoming more common in adults because correcting your smile has no age limit. It can make you feel and look better than ever before. There are also many more options than the traditional metal braces of your youth, like Invisalign, to make you feel more comfortable about having to correct the alignment of your teeth.
You Might Need Braces Because of Issues With Space
One of the main reasons a child or adult might need to visit an orthodontist is because of issues with space. Whether you or your child have visible space between certain teeth or your teeth are pushed together in an uneven way, braces can help correct these issues.
Braces will help align your teeth and end any brushing problems you’ve had, especially with overlapping teeth. Regular appointments with the orthodontist are necessary to make sure your teeth are aligning in the right way.
Issues With Appearance
While appearance shouldn’t be the most important thing to a person, it still carries some weight. Many people struggle with self-esteem, especially young girls and boys. 7 out of 10 girls don’t like the way they look and a crooked smile can add to their issues with their appearance.
Feeling uncomfortable in social settings because of less than perfect teeth can have a negative impact on a person. Braces can help fix these issues and help build your confidence once again.
Jaw Problems
The field of dentistry is equipped to handle many issues concerning the mouth and teeth but when the issues can be corrected with braces, a visit to the orthodontist is the right way to go.
A misaligned jaw can cause a lot of unwanted problems. You’ll experience jaw pain when eating or speaking and overall discomfort that doesn’t seem to go away.
Braces can help realign your jaw. Your pain will subside and your face will look more even with your jaw back in the right position.
You Want to Take Care of Your Dental Hygiene
Taking care of your health is important and that includes your dental health as well. Crooked or overcrowded teeth can make brushing and flossing harder and this can lead to issues with cavities or tooth decay if not taken care of properly.
Tooth decay, if neglected, can create bad infections that can spread to other parts of your body. This can make you seriously ill if ignored.
One of the most important reasons to get braces is to take care of your dental hygiene and prevent other serious health issues from occurring.
You Have Bite Problems
Another common reason children or adults might need braces is for bite issues. The pressure that braces place on the teeth can correct a misaligned bite.
An overbite is when the upper teeth protrude slightly over the lower teeth. This can change your appearance but can also make chewing certain foods more difficult. An underbite is the lower teeth sticking out more than the upper teeth.
An open bite is a space between the upper and lower teeth when you try to bite down. This issue usually occurs from thumb sucking that has lasted longer than it should. Braces can realign the teeth and correct these bite problems, setting up a virtual consultation to talk about this issue with our team is easy.
You’ve Experienced Shifting
Even if you had braces as a child, your teeth can begin to shift later in life. Whether you grind your teeth during sleep or have been dealing with cavities, shifting can be a reason to get braces as an adult.
Addressing this problem and straightening your teeth is crucial to avoid more serious problems with your teeth that can create a variety of other health issues you most likely want to avoid having to deal with.
Gum Problems
As discussed before, overlapping teeth can make brushing and flossing your teeth quite difficult. When you aren’t able to properly take care of your dental hygiene you may develop gum issues like gingivitis or eventually the more serious periodontitis.
You can avoid developing these gum issues with braces that will align your teeth and by continuing to practice good dental hygiene.
Braces Can Help With Speech Problems
Misaligned teeth can also be the cause of certain speech problems. The misalignment of the teeth and jaw can make it harder to pronounce and can prevent you from speaking clearly. Going through the procedure and getting braces can help correct mild speech problems.
Get Braces for a Better Smile
The timeline to get braces depends on each individual patient. There are also many different reasons why you would need braces, the list above includes some of the most common.
Contact us today to set up a consultation at one of our offices or to set up a virtual appointment. Feel free to ask any questions before setting up an appointment, we’d be more than happy to answer them.