Gaining a healthy, confident smile.

No one has a perfect smile—in fact, it’s your smile’s unique qualities and imperfections that give it personality and make it one-of-a-kind. No one else has a smile like yours! That said, it’s important that you’re comfortable with your smile and that you feel confident sharing it with the people around you. If you’re self-conscious about your crooked teeth or misaligned bite, using orthodontic treatments to straighten your teeth can help you regain confidence in the appearance and health of your smile for years to come.

If you had braces as a child and have noticed your teeth resuming their old positions, you may not want to get traditional braces again. This is where clear aligners come in; it achieves the same results as traditional braces but has a number of unique advantages over them. To help you decide if it’s right for you, here’s a breakdown of 5 of the benefits you’ll likely experience from straightening your teeth—and from choosing clear aligner treatment to do it.

1. Orthodontic treatment has a wide range of benefits.

Straightening your teeth can improve your self-esteem, help you present yourself more confidently to those around you, and can even improve others’ impressions of you. You’re likely to smile more often and more confidently when you love your smile. This makes you seem friendlier, more self-assured, and can even help you appear more competent at work.

Additionally, straighter teeth are actually better for your oral health. The nooks and crannies formed by crooked teeth make it harder to floss and brush properly. As a result, straightening teeth decreases your chances of getting tooth decay or gum disease. Cavities and severe gum disease, called periodontitis, can lead to painful oral health issues and earn you a trip to the emergency dentist, so it’s always best to take steps to prevent them in the first place. Over the years, crooked teeth are also prone to being worn unevenly; this can cause tooth sensitivity, affect the appearance of your smile, and make chewing difficult.

Finally, it’s a good idea to get orthodontic treatments like clear aligners through an orthodontist. Nowadays, general and family dentists provide clear aligner treatments with great results, but orthodontists have received additional, specialized education that general and family dentists haven’t received. This advanced knowledge helps orthodontists predict and keep close tabs on the way your teeth move throughout the treatment and determine how that will affect your overall bite. They can provide more specialized orthodontic care than general and family dentists can. No matter what method you choose or where you receive treatment, however, straightening your teeth keeps your teeth and gums healthier in the long run—all while giving you confidence in your smile.

2. Clear aligners’ invisibility minimizes its impact on your social and professional life.

Clear aligners are just that—completely clear—and are designed to fit snugly against your teeth, so they’re almost completely invisible when you’re wearing them. While braces are immediately visible, even from a distance, most people won’t notice that you’re wearing Invisalign clear aligners. This enables you to continue looking professional throughout your treatment and helps you see results right away. It also minimizes the impact on your social life, as the clear aligners won’t show up in pictures or videos. Whether you’re a budding YouTuber or have an important work event to go to, few people will even realize your clear aligners are there.

3. It’s more comfortable.

While braces consist of wires and metal brackets that can sometimes scrape or cut the inside on your mouth, clear aligners are designed for comfort. The aligners are made of smooth plastic that’s custom-made to fit your teeth, ensuring that it’s comfortable to wear all day long. When you switch to a new pair of aligners, you’ll experience some soreness immediately afterward—much like you would just after getting your braces tightened. This should only last for a day or two, however, and just like with braces, it should be minor.

4. It allows you to eat your favorite foods.

Since your clear aligners are removable, you can take them out to eat meals and snacks. In fact, you should remove them every time you eat or drink anything other than water, as the aligners stain easily and will lose their clarity over time if you don’t. Thankfully, though, the trade off is worth it: you can continue eating all of your favorite foods. You don’t have to cut out popcorn or toffee and you won’t have to worry about food getting stuck in the brackets of your braces. Simply pop your aligners out to enjoy your meal, then brush your teeth before popping them back in!

5. Clear aligners let you brush and floss your teeth normally.

When it’s time to brush and floss your teeth for your daily oral hygiene routine, traditional braces require you to negotiate your way around the metal wires and brackets in your mouth to do a thorough job of flossing and brushing. In contrast, clear aligner treatment makes the process as simple and easy as ever; without brackets fixed onto your teeth, you simply remove your aligners to carry out your usual routine. You should also gently clean the aligners themselves at least once a day to keep them smelling fresh and looking clear. This is a quick, easy process that doesn’t add much time to your daily routine, but it’s a step you need to be willing to commit to before you get clear aligners.

It’s available to start any time.

Your teeth and gums need to be healthy before you can start any type of orthodontic treatment. Otherwise, it’s quick and easy for people of all ages to get started with clear aligner treatment. You’ll simply arrive at our office for a consultation, during which your dentist will examine your teeth and discuss your treatment needs and goals before mapping out your treatment plan. Once you’ve started, you need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day to be effective.

Clear aligners are a simple and effective way to discreetly straighten your teeth while avoiding many of the prominent pitfalls of traditional braces. If you’re interested in learning more about clear aligner treatment and how it can improve your smile, feel free to call our office and schedule a consultation at any time.