Did your dentist just tell you that your child has crooked teeth that need to be straightened? Or do you yourself have crooked teeth that you would like to straighten as an adult with help from an orthodontist?
Once upon a time, metal braces were the only option that people had when it came to straightening their teeth. But in this day and age, there are lots of different teeth straightening options that you can choose from when you decide to do something about your crooked teeth.
By picking out the right option, you can ensure that you’re able to get straight teeth fast. For some people, that’ll mean going with traditional metal braces, while for others, it’ll mean going with the best braces alternative.
Check out some of the top teeth straightening options below and decide what the best way to straighten teeth will be for you.
Metal Braces
When you picture someone with braces in your head, there’s a good chance that you picture them with metal braces in their mouth. This is because metal braces have been the most popular type of braces for a long time now.
When you have metal braces on your teeth, it’s going to be impossible for you to hide them. They’ll be placed on the front of your teeth, and every month, your orthodontist will tighten your braces a little bit to straighten your teeth gradually over time.
Metal braces are often the most affordable of the many teeth straightening options. It’s why parents tend to choose them for their kids and why many adults come around to using them as well.
Metal braces have also come a long way in recent years. These days, they’re a lot smaller than they used to be, and they’re also more comfortable than ever before. For all of these reasons, they’re still a top choice for those interested in straightening their teeth.
Ceramic Braces
Most of the people who have braces today are either kids or teenagers. But there are about 1 million adults walking around with braces on their teeth in an effort to get straighter, healthier teeth.
If you’re going to be getting braces as an adult, you may want to invest in one of the alternatives to braces made out of metal. Many adults are self-conscious about getting metal braces or worried about how they might affect their appearance at work.
Those who are concerned about getting metal braces might want to go with ceramic braces instead. They work in the same way that metal braces do, but they use ceramic brackets that are a lot harder to see when you’re walking around with them.
You will need to prepare yourself to take better care of ceramic braces. They’re known to stain easily if you don’t deliver the right amount of TLC to them. They’re also known to stain if you drink a lot of coffee and/or wine.
But as long as you’re ready to maintain ceramic braces, they can serve as a solid alternative to metal braces.
Lingual Braces
Ceramic braces will, for the most part, go undetected when you have them on your teeth. You won’t have to worry about too many people seeing them when you’re walking around with them at work.
But if people get up close to you, they’ll be able to see ceramic braces. If you’re concerned about this, so-called lingual braces might be the right choice for you.
Unlike metal and ceramic braces that are put on the front of your teeth, an orthodontist will put lingual braces on the back of your teeth. This will make your braces invisible to everyone else.
It can be tough getting used to lingual braces at first. Your tongue is likely going to brush up against them early and often at the beginning.
But once you adjust to your lingual braces, you’ll love how discreet they are. You’ll also love how much straighter your teeth will start to look over time.
Invisible Aligners
Would you like to straighten your teeth without putting braces on them at all? This used to be impossible, but invisible aligners have made it easy for orthodontists to provide their patients with straighter teeth without relying on braces.
Orthodontists who offer Invisalign treatment will set their patients up with small, plastic aligners that are easy to remove. They’ll have their patients wear these aligners for a specific amount of time every day and night to produce the intended results.
Invisalign isn’t one of the best teeth straightening options for those with extremely crooked teeth. But it’ll be a great option for the average person looking to improve their smile.
Invisalign also offers a long list of benefits that you won’t get with braces. In addition to being invisible, you’ll find that invisible aligners are:
- Very easy to keep clean
- More comfortable than metal, ceramic, and lingual braces
- Less restrictive when it comes to what you can and can’t eat
- A great deterrent to teeth grinding for those who grind their teeth at night
Although Invisalign is sometimes a little more costly than braces, you shouldn’t let that stop you from considering it as a viable option. Most of the people who have used Invisalign will tell you it’s the best way to straighten teeth in 2020.
Which of These Teeth Straightening Options Is Right for You?
In the past, studies have shown that about 30% of people are unhappy with the way that their smiles look. They wish that there was an easy way to change their smiles for the better.
If you feel this way, you should know that there are teeth straightening options that can provide you with a better smile in no time. From metal braces to invisible aligners, you should think about giving one of these options a try.
Are you interested in finding out about some of the biggest benefits of having braces or invisible aligners put on your teeth? Check out our blog to see some of the advantages that will come along with doing it.