Teeth Straightening and Its Benefits

Crooked teeth can damage your confidence and leave you feeling less confident. They are a real concern for many people and it’s not unusual to want to hide your teeth when you smile as a result of crooked teeth.

Most adults in the UK would like to have straighter teeth and better smiles; this has resulted in teeth straightening treatments becoming one of the most sought-after treatments. While teeth straightening used to be more common for teenagers, it is now growing in popularity for adults too.

Who needs teeth straightening treatment?

Anyone can benefit from teeth straightening if they are self-conscious about their smile due to alignment issues.

Some of the most common issues related to misaligned teeth are; overcrowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, crossbites and underbites.

Crooked or misaligned teeth inadvertently affect your bite creating unnecessary pressure and premature wear on your teeth. It also overtime can cause pain in the jaw, headaches and migraines.

Crooked teeth are also more difficult to care for, as certain areas of the teeth may be more difficult to reach with a toothbrush. As a result, straightening your smile could make it much easier to care for your teeth.

Is there an age limit for teeth straightening?

No, there is no upper or lower age limit for teeth straightening. You simply need to have good overall oral health and an alignment issue that can be addressed with orthodontics. It’s a common misconception that only teenagers can have braces, or that adults can only have braces if they had them as a teenager. This isn’t the case and adults are welcome to try orthodontic treatment to correct alignment issues at any age.

Benefits of straight teeth

Apart from the great aesthetic look, and boosted self-confidence that straight teeth may give a person there are also oral health benefits to having straighter teeth.

Some of these include:

• Less likelihood of having decayed teeth. Plaque can form in the pockets of or in between the hard-to-reach spots in the crooked teeth eventually leading to decay in those parts.

• Being able to bite, chew, and eat better means a healthier life. You will be able to chew your food better, which can help to improve digestion and your wider health.

• Straighter teeth help your gums fit around your teeth better. This means less likelihood of developing gum disease.

• Straighter teeth lead to less wear and tear on your teeth compared to crooked ones.

• Straighter teeth mean overall healthier teeth and gums

How long does it take to straighten teeth?

The time it takes to straighten your teeth will depend on the severity of your misalignment. Mild cases could be addressed in as little as 6 months, while more severe alignment problems could take around 24 months to fix.

By choosing a removable aligner system like Invisalign, or opting for clear fixed braces, you could enjoy a more discreet teeth straightening journey. Often, patients don’t mind if their treatment takes longer if the braces aren’t too obvious or visible.

How can Benfleet Dental Centre help?

Benfleet Dental Centre provides a range of teeth straightening treatments, particularly with Invisalign invisible braces, clear braces and Cfast braces. Our dentists are highly experienced in teeth straightening treatments and will take good care of you.