Why It’s Never Too Late to Fix Your Smile

Maybe your parents couldn’t afford to fix your smile when you were a kid or maybe your teeth didn’t start to shift until you were older. Either way, there is no short window of time for correcting your smile. You don’t have to be a middle school aged kid to wear braces and lucky for you, there are other alternatives to the metal braces you remember your friends wearing in school.

If you are self-conscious of the condition of your smile and your dentist has told you that braces might help with both the appearance and health of your teeth, then you should consider orthodontic treatment no matter if you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s and 60s. With today’s innovations in modern orthodontics, there is no reason why you can’t have the beautiful smile you have always dreamed about.

It is never too late to fix your smile. Here are some of the benefits of braces that are timeless:

Healthier Teeth

With crooked teeth, it is a lot harder to properly brush and floss your teeth and gums. Plaque and bacteria tend to buildup in those hard to reach spots. If you find yourself getting a lot of cavities and dealing with gum problems than a straighter smile can help keep your teeth and gums cleaner and healthier. This is important at any age, but as you get older with the natural wear and tear on your teeth, preserving your natural teeth becomes even more crucial. Avoid having years of extra dental work and suffering through periodontal disease by straightening your teeth now.

A Healthier You

Our bodies are made up of interesting, complex systems. What affects one part of our body affects other parts as well. If you have poor oral health, you are also increasing your risk for other health issues like heart disease and stroke. As we age, we are already at an increased risk for these diseases so why add to it? Just like it is never too late to eat better and exercise. It is never too late to work on your oral health.

A More Confident You

As an adult, how you feel about your appearance can be more important than even when you were a child. If you want to advance in your career and have close, intimate relationships with family, friends and significant others than you need to feel confident in your smile. If you are too embarrassed to smile, or worse yet, to even leave the house, the shame and isolation you feel can affect you mentally and emotionally. If however you were able to get that beautiful smile you have always wanted, then you will find yourself transformed and everyone around you will notice the difference.

All sounds good, right? If the thought of wearing metal braces for two to three years is still holding you back though. Don’t worry. There are different braces options available to you. Besides the traditional metal braces, there are ceramic braces that are tooth-colored so less noticeable and there are Invisalign braces, which are removable clear plastic aligners. You can even opt for braces that are adhered to the back of your teeth instead of the front.

A lot of factors go into deciding which treatment option is best for you: condition of your teeth and level of work needed, your budget, and personal preferences like shorter length of treatment, fewer dietary restrictions and how important it is to you that the braces be “invisible” to the casual observer. Your best bet is to consult with a few orthodontists and look at all the facts before making a decision. For your particular situation, the metal braces might be the most effective. That beautiful, healthy smile at the end is worth it though, right?

Age is just a number

As the saying goes, “Age is just a number and you are only as old as you feel”. Recent studies have shown that more and more adults even in their 60s and 70s are opting for orthodontic treatment. There really is no cutoff time for when you can get braces, especially in today’s day and age where people are living healthier lives and are keeping their natural teeth longer.

If you have strong healthy teeth that are just crooked then it doesn’t matter what your age is, braces can help you achieve that straighter smile. If however you have dental issues like periodontal disease or tooth decay or missing teeth then you will need to have these corrected before your orthodontic treatment can begin.

Other things you should keep in mind if getting braces as an adult:

• Because all of our bones have stopped growing by the time we are adults, there might be some structural changes that cannot be achieved with just braces. Sometimes minor oral surgery might be required as well.
• Your orthodontist might recommend that you see a periodontist as well as your general dentist while wearing braces to make sure there is no bone loss occurring because of gum disease.

Despite these additional concerns, getting your braces as an adult actually has some additional benefits. For one thing, as an adult, it is probably much more affordable because you have your own income and credit to use. Also as an adult, you have complete say in what kinds of treatment you get. Think how good it will feel to be able to do this for yourself. How much happier and healthier you will be. And because you have so many options to choose from, you don’t necessarily have to experience the “metal mouth” dreaded by all middle schoolers and teens alike.

Bottom line

It is never too late to fix your smile. Consult an orthodontist near you to discuss what options are best for your particular situation. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Braces can be a big investment in time and money, but your health and well-being is worth it.