We’re always invested in debunking myths about dental health, and today we want to talk about an important one. If you didn’t get orthodontic treatment as a teen (or your teeth have shifted in the years since getting your braces removed), is it too late?
The short answer is no! Not only is it never too late to invest in straighter teeth and better alignment, but technology like Invisalign gives adults a discrete option.
If you’re interested in the longer answer, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn why it’s not too late to invest in Invisalign for adults.
Easy Use
You have plenty of responsibilities already, from going to work to taking care of your family. The idea of undergoing treatment to straighten teeth may seem like one more responsibility you don’t have time for.
The reality is that Invisalign doesn’t do much to change your daily routine. Each day, you should aim to wear Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. You’ll take them out to eat, drink, brush, and floss, giving them a good rinse before putting them in the case.
Because you can remove Invisalign trays, you don’t have to worry about changing up your at-home dental routine. In fact, they’re often better for your overall oral hygiene because they don’t trap bacteria or make brushing and flossing harder.
No Food or Drink Limitations
If you grew up with braces, you may remember that you were limited in what you could eat. To avoid damaging the brackets and wires, you couldn’t eat foods that were too sticky or crunchy. You may have chosen to avoid eating foods that would get stuck in your braces, like corn on the cob.
With Invisalign, you’re not limited in what you can eat and drink. The only caveat is that unless you’re drinking water and consuming nothing else, you do need to take your aligners out. Chewing can damage your aligners will colorful or acidic drinks (like coffee and red wine) can stain them.
Minimal Appointments
Traditional braces are still one of the best options to treat serious orthodontic problems, but they can be time-consuming. Depending on the extent of your treatment, you may need to visit your orthodontist every four weeks with braces. This allows them to examine your progress and tighten or adjust your braces.
Invisalign requires less time in the dentist’s chair from start to finish. In many cases, dentists can make custom-made aligners using quick, non-invasive 3-D scanners.
Most patients come in every six to eight weeks so their dentist can make sure the progress is going well. Rather than manually adjusting your braces, they’ll give you new aligners that you’ll manage on your own time.
Improved Self Confidence
An estimated three in five people don’t like the way their smile looks. They smile with their lips closed, cover their mouths, or try not to smile at all.
Everyone deserves to have a smile they love and want to share with the world. Using aligners to correct gaps or crooked teeth may not seem like a life-changing act, but if it means that you can express your joy more freely, that’s exactly what it is.
Invisalign can also make it easier to pursue other dental procedures in the future. For example, moving your teeth into their proper positions can make room for dental implants, allowing you to replace missing or damaged teeth.
Less Oral Discomfort
Traditional braces can feel bulky and rough, causing small scrapes and scratches inside the mouth. They may temporarily change the shape of your face and the way you speak.
When you first start using Invisalign or switch from one aligner to the next, you may notice some slight soreness because of the pressure on your teeth. However, this is easy to manage and most patients find that it goes away quickly. Plus, the smooth aligner trays are flush with your teeth, preventing any of that roughness or bulkiness you’d experience with braces.
Once your Invisalign treatment is complete, you may notice lasting relief from things like uncomfortable bite patterns and mild speech impediments caused by misalignments and gaps. If your teeth are causing you discomfort now, Invisalign is well worth the investment.
Better Oral Health
Straightening your teeth does far more than increase confidence and mitigate discomfort. Believe it or not, straighter teeth can support your overall oral health.
For example, crooked teeth are one of the factors that can increase your chance of developing gum disease. When your teeth overlap, your toothbrush isn’t able to scrub away as much surface plaque. Even a regular flossing routine may not stop plaque and bacteria from building up in those hard-to-reach spaces.
After a successful Invisalign treatment, you’ll find it much easier to keep your teeth clean at home. Combined with your biannual dental cleaning, this improved oral hygiene can lower your chances of developing oral health problems later in life.
Discrete Orthodontic Treatment
At the end of the day, Invisalign is a great choice for eligible adults because of the minimal impact it has on the day-to-day. Yes, you have to take care of your aligner trays, but the trays themselves are a discrete alternative to traditional braces.
Many patients can complete their treatment course in as little as one year. In that time, most people in your life won’t even notice that you’re using Invisalign. All they’ll notice is that you have a great smile and plenty of confidence!
Call Modern Mint to Learn More About Invisalign for Adults
If you’ve always wanted straighter teeth but thought you missed your chance, we’re here to assure you that you haven’t. Depending on the extent of orthodontic corrections you need, Invisalign for adults may be the perfect choice. The only thing left to do is talk to your dentist about the next steps.
Modern Mint Dental Care offers a wide range of modern dental procedures. Our husband and wife team tests the latest digital dentistry tools and use only the best practices for patient success and comfort. Contact us with any questions you still have about Invisalign.
