Braces aren’t just for kids, in fact, more and more adults are getting braces in recent years. For some individuals, they simply didn’t have the opportunity to get braces as a child or teen, and braces can feel like a milestone achievement. For others, their teeth may have shifted out of place since they had braces when they were younger, and they’re wanting to pursue a more successful treatment plan. Let’s talk about some of the top reasons why more adults are getting braces.

Your Smile is Important

When people think of braces, many think about improving the appearance of their smile. This is an important reason, because your smile can affect your confidence, and your confidence can affect your mood, energy levels, readiness to connect with friends and strangers, and many other important things in your life that can significantly impact your satisfaction and enjoyment.

Improving Comfort

Another important reason why more adults are getting braces is to improve the comfort of their mouth and smile. Having a misaligned bite or teeth can feel a lot less comfortable than when your teeth are properly aligned. In some cases, improper alignment can lead to TMJ, a dysfunction of the jaw hinge joint, which can cause jaw swelling or discomfort, toothaches, headaches, and other symptoms.

Health Benefits

Braces are used to correct many conditions, including crooked, overlapping and crowded teeth. These may sound like cosmetic issues, but they can actually cause numerous health issues. Misaligned teeth can make it a lot more complicated and difficult to clean all the surfaces of your teeth, especially between them and along the gum line, which can contribute to cavities and gum disease. This is one of the most important reasons why more adults are getting braces. Braces may impact dental health long term by preventing tooth decay and improving oral hygiene.

Bringing your teeth and bite into correct alignment can reduce the pressure on overcrowded teeth, make it easier to brush and floss, and lessen the number of difficult to reach areas between and around your teeth, which can improve your overall dental health. This is one of the many reasons why adults are getting more braces that stand out the most. Your dental health matters, and if braces can help, why not use them?

Meeting Your Orthodontist for the First Time

The best way to know if this is the right time for you to get braces is to make an appointment with an orthodontist for a consultation. An orthodontist will assess your teeth and bite and let you know what treatment is needed, an estimated timeline, and what to expect throughout the process. When you meet your orthodontist for the first time, share with them what your goals are and the reason behind your goals, so that they can help you to achieve your desired results with as much efficiency as possible.

Call our McKinney, Rowlett, Sherman, Greenville, Rio Bravo or Montgomery dental offices to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.