Straightening your teeth is a great way of improving your dental health. Good dental health is important for overall well-being, and if you have crooked teeth, you may be more likely to develop dental health complications such as tooth decay and gum disease, which can affect not only your teeth and gums but also your overall health. Speak to your dentist and find out about the different ways of straightening your teeth. Traditionally, orthodontic treatment is carried out using fixed metal braces, consisting of metal brackets attached to the front surface of the teeth and connected with a metal archwire that exerts pressure and pushes the teeth into a neater formation. This sort of treatment is ideal for complex orthodontic cases.
If you have mild or moderate orthodontic issues, you can speak to your dentist about removable orthodontic treatment. Removable orthodontic appliances, such as clear aligners and other similar devices, are designed to correct aesthetic issues and mild or moderate orthodontic issues, for example, crooked teeth, protruding front teeth and gapped teeth. By addressing these issues, you can improve the appearance of your smile and your dental health at the same time.
Tooth decay and gum disease
If you have orthodontic issues, these must be addressed early on in life to avoid complications in the future. The more crooked your teeth are, the more likely you are to develop plaque on the surface of your teeth. This plaque is inhabited by millions of bacteria both good and bad. Bad bacteria build up as a result of poor dental hygiene. Food particles get stuck between your teeth and other parts of your mouth, which promotes the growth of bad bacteria. To prevent this, you should brush your teeth effectively at least twice a day, floss at least once a day and rinse your mouth after your meal to remove lingering food from the mouth. These bacteria secrete acids that break down and put holes in the enamel, which eventually become deeper and affect the dentin and even the dental pulp at the centre of the tooth.
Bad bacteria also release toxins that can cause gum inflammation, tenderness, discomfort and bleeding gums, which are signs of gum disease and can eventually result in periodontal disease. Both tooth decay and gum disease can even result in tooth loss. By straightening your teeth, you can reduce the amount of plaque that builds up on your teeth, promoting better dental health and protecting your teeth from decay and disease.
Invisible braces
Speak to your dentist about invisible braces Clapham, which could be a great solution for you. Invisible braces are either fixed braces or removable aligners that work effectively to straighten teeth while being highly discreet, as the name suggests, and almost invisible when worn. Invisible braces are great for patients who do not want to draw further attention to their mouth.
Invisible braces are highly effective, especially fixed braces that work in the same way as traditional metal braces but use ceramic brackets that are very difficult to detect. Removable invisible braces, such as Invisalign aligners, use clear thermoplastic aligners to straighten teeth; these aligners can fit snugly in the mouth and, once again, are very difficult to detect unless they are pointed out.
Invisible aligners are also very good at straightening teeth, although they are better suited for mild, moderate and cosmetic orthodontic issues. Both fixed braces and removable braces take a similar amount of time to straighten teeth; however, because removable braces are used for less complex issues, you may find that your teeth can be straightened within as little as 6 months. If you were to use them for more complex issues, they would take a similar duration of roughly 12 to 18 months.
Removable braces require more discipline as you have to remember to wear them for the recommended daily duration so that the process comes along successfully.
By assessing your teeth, your dentist will be able to help you decide on the best option. Whether you are looking for fixed invisible braces or removable aligners, you have the advantage of no one noticing you undergo orthodontic treatment. Speak to your dentist today to find out more.
