Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Orthodontic Care for Your Teen

A young girl is laying on a couch with her mother.

Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi

A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.

Here is why you shouldn’t ignore orthodontic care for your teen:

Improves oral health

Once your teen leaves the nest you won’t be able to make sure they are taking care of their health correctly so it is a good time to do it now. Crooked or misaligned teeth can affect their oral hygiene and lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Food can more easily become stuck between crooked teeth and it can be harder to get the toothbrush into those tight spaces in the mouth.

Improves overall health

Unfortunately there are many diseases that are linked to poor oral health too. Studies have shown that gum disease is a risk factor for heart diseases, diabetes and other diseases.

More self-confidence

With a healthier, straighter smile, they will feel more confident as they start a new chapter of their life. Whether they are going off to college or starting their career, a positive sense of self will push them to challenge themselves and to go after their dreams. No more skipping out of photographs and only offering tight-lipped smiles. Not everyone is born with a beautiful smile, but everyone does deserve to feel beautiful and confident. What could be a better gift than that?

More Affordable Options Available

There are a lot more orthodontic options available today than when you were young which makes it easier for you to find a treatment that your teen prefers, but is also affordable for you. Besides the traditional metal braces, there are ceramic braces, lingual braces and Invisalign aligners.

Invisalign braces, in particular, are popular with teens because they are invisible and very comfortable to wear and easy to take care of. The teenage years are difficult enough without adding braces into the mix and the creative minds behind Invisalign understand that. With the Invisalign clear braces, though, teens feel a boost of self-confidence while wearing the braces and are less likely to worry about being teased. Traditional metal braces always means living with a metal mouth for several years and no kid wants to have to go through that if they don’t have to.

Typically teens love that Invisalign braces are clear and easy to remove and comfortable to wear, but parents sometimes worry that they don’t work as well as metal braces. To help parents of teens feel more confident about choosing Invisalign over traditional metal braces, The Invisalign Teen Guarantee Program, the first of its kind, offers a chance to switch to traditional braces if they and their child are not happy with the results.

Why Choose Invisalign?

Invisalign clear braces are just as effective at solving teeth alignment problems as metal braces. Even more serious conditions like malocclusion can easily be treated with Invisalign. If your teen has gapped teeth, and overbite or underbite or crowding of the teeth, these can all be corrected by Invisalign clear braces just as easily as they can be by metal braces. Now elastics can also be used with Invisalign aligners to better handle the more complicated issues. Invisalign clear braces are just as effective as the traditional metal braces.

Compared with metal braces, Invisalign offers a host of different benefits. For starters, the clear braces are a lot less noticeable so your teen will be comforted by the fact that most people won’t even know she is wearing them and your teen won’t have to worry about food getting stuck in them.

Another benefit of wearing Invisalign is that the clear aligners are easy to remove. Your teen will be able to take them off whenever she brushes her teeth or even while she is eating or drinking. You don’t have to worry about any food or drink restrictions either. However, make sure your teen is wearing the aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. If she doesn’t wear them enough each day, then the braces will lose their effectiveness.

Invisalign is also a gentler approach to orthodontic care. Because there are no wires or metal involved, your teen won’t run the risk of scratching up the inside of her mouth. Metal braces are also tougher on the teeth and can lead to cavities and other problems. The metal puts a lot more pressure on the teeth than the Invisalign clear aligners, but isn’t necessarily any more effective. Who says your teen has to suffer for a beautiful smile?

Your teen will also appreciate how easy it is to clean the aligners. They can simply be brushed and then rinsed with warm water or your teen can use an Invisalign cleaning kit.

Both you and your teen will love all the benefits that Invisalign’s advanced technology brings to the table and how little your teen’s life will be impacted while wearing them. If she plays sports and wears a mouth guard, she can even take off the aligners to make sure the mouth guard can fit properly for the best protection. Invisalign clear plastic braces offer both convenience and comfort.

Remember that whether you choose Invisalign or traditional metal braces it is important for your teen’s overall oral health to straighten their smile. When teeth are too crowded together or if there are big gaps between the teeth, the gums may get swollen which can contribute to tooth decay and is also a sign of periodontal disease. When teeth are properly aligned, it also means that the gums are healthy as well. Straight teeth are also easier to brush and floss. It won’t be so easy for food particles to get stuck. Tooth decay and gum disease has also been linked to other diseases as well like heart disease so give your child their best shot at a healthy life by giving them the gift of a healthy smile.

If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign in Philadelphia, call Orthdontics Limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of the Invisalign Teen Guarantee. With it you get the best of both worlds. You can take advantage of Invisalign’s advanced technology, but still have a failsafe in place just in case you are not happy with the results by the 6 month mark.

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