The Ultimate Guide to Straightening Your Teeth

orthodontist treating a patient

Flashing that perfect smile with straight teeth gives you an extra confidence boost. But getting your teeth straightened gives you many overall health benefits which surpass a pretty smile. This post takes you through vital information about teeth straightening and its benefits.

What is Teeth Straightening?

In simple terms, teeth straightening is the process of properly aligning crooked and misaligned teeth. It is done by applying outside force gradually. It improves dental health, resolves bite issues, and beautifies your smile.

Teeth straightening makes your life easy by resolving bite issues such as overbite, underbite, and deep bite.

Who Needs Teeth Straightening?

A minor imperfection of bite and teeth may not be noticeable. But the apparent difference in the teeth and jaw is often troublesome. Generally, multiple teeth and jawbone are misaligned if you have bite issues. However, sometimes a single crooked tooth can also create problems.

Misaligned teeth make day-to-day tasks like eating, chewing, and speaking challenging. It even creates breathing issues. Therefore it doesn’t only affect you physically but also psychologically. Not to forget, it increases your risk of dental health problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Therefore it’s non-negotiable to meet an orthodontist to correct your misaligned teeth and jaw as soon as you can!

Visit us at Brite Orthodontist, NY for a personalized orthodontic treatment plan based on your comprehensive smile assessment.

What are the Benefits of Teeth Straightening?

Here are a few health benefits of teeth straightening:

  • 01

    Your Teeth and Gums Stay Healthy

    Overcrowding or too widely spaced teeth might lead to gum irritation. Gums might become red, swollen, and lead to periodontal disease. Straight teeth are the healthiest defense that gums have against bacteria. Dental braces help with teeth straightening by moving your teeth gradually into the proper position.

  • 02

    It’s Easier to Clean Straight Teeth

    Crowded teeth or teeth with gaps are hard to clean since it’s harder to floss or use a toothbrush in certain areas. This can lead to tooth decay and gum diseases like periodontal problems. In the long run, gum disease can lead to heart disease and even diabetes.

  • 03

    Less Wear and Tear On Teeth

    A crowded bottom jaw can cause one or more teeth to jut out and rub against the upper teeth. This can cause unnecessary wear to the tooth enamel and make you lose a tooth in the long run, which can be prevented by wearing dental braces.

  • 04

    Help with Sleep Apnea

    Sleep apnea occurs when a person has disturbed breathing patterns while sleeping. This is a serious sleep disorder that can cause a large number of problems. The physical blockage of the airway is one of the most common forms of sleep apnea, and a misaligned jaw can cause this.

    Teeth straightening can help with getting your jaw to align so that any tissues in your mouth do not obstruct your airway.

  • 05

    Helps With Improving Digestion

    Orthodontic braces have a significant long-term health benefit — better digestion. Misaligned teeth can compromise chewing, which means that the first step in the digestion process is not taken care of properly. Straighter Teeth help break down food when you chew, aiding the digestion process.

  • 06

    Helps Decrease Headaches and Neck Pain

    Crooked or overcrowded teeth can cause excessive stress on the gums and the bones that support the teeth. This can also sometimes lead to teeth grinding (or bruxism). Bruxism can cause headaches and neck pain, along with placing excessive stress on the teeth.

    Orthodontics braces hold the teeth in place, gradually helping you get the correct bite. They straighten the teeth and prevent grinding in some patients.

  • 07

    Can Lower the Risk of Lip and Gum Injury

    Misaligned teeth can injure the soft tissue in your mouth. Your lips and cheeks can be damaged if you keep biting your inner cheek and lips. This can be taken care of by a simple set of dental braces.

How to Straighten Teeth?

So how to get your teeth straighter? Here are the 2 basic type of teeth straightening options:-

  • How to Straighten Teeth With Braces?

    The most common and conventional form of teeth straightening is with braces. They are strategically placed to apply the proper pressure on your teeth to move them in the desired direction. The usual treatment duration with braces is 18 months to 2 years. It may vary according to the condition of your misalignment and the type of braces you choose.

    The most well-known braces are the traditional metal braces. But with the progress of dentistry, many modern and convenient braces are used for treating misalignment. Some of them are Damon braces, Ceramic braces, and Lingual braces.

  • How to Straighten Teeth Without Braces?

    Earlier, people were unaware of how to straighten teeth without braces. But modern orthodontic solutions are pretty common. The 2 leading ways of teeth straightening without braces are as follows:-

01

Teeth Straightening With Invisalign

Invisalign aligners are made from clear plastic. They are custom-made and fitted on your teeth like a mouthguard. Teeth straightening through Invisalign is ideal for adults and young teens as they are almost invisible. They are also preferred because of being removable. You can eat or drink anything you want after removing them.

So they don’t come with any dietary restrictions like the traditional braces. However, they demand a strict cleaning routine.

02

Teeth Straightening With Retainers

Retainers are the orthodontic appliances you need to wear after the teeth straightening treatment. It ensures that the newly-aligned teeth don’t drift to their old position. However, sometimes entire teeth straightening for adults is possible with retainers. But it’s a rare occasion.

FAQs

There is no one best way to straighten teeth for all. Take up a consultation with our doctors who will analyze your dental condition and tell you which treatment from various teeth straightening options is suitable for you and why!

Like the treatment option varies according to the condition of your misalignment, the teeth straightening cost also varies. It’s decided according to your dental health condition and the type of orthodontic treatment suitable in your case.

Yes, there are various teeth straightening options available for adult orthodontic treatment.

Braces take 18 to 24 months to straighten your teeth, but you will notice the difference from the 4th week of starting the treatment. It may also take 2-3 months for the treatment to show results for some people.

Parting Words

If you are looking for orthodontic braces in Rome, New Hartford or Watertown in NY, visit us at Brite Orthodontics. Based on your comprehensive smile assessment, we will customize your treatment plan so you get the best possible results from teeth straightening.

Dr. Satish Pai, M.D.S

Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and Ivy League trained dentist who has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Brite Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.

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