How To Effectively Straighten Your Teeth Misaligned and crooked teeth are common dental issues that both kids and adults suffer from. Some of the causes of misaligned or crooked teeth include;
• Jaw size.
• Wisdom teeth.
• Poor myofunctional habits like bottle or pacifier use, thumb sucking, mouth breathing, and tongue thrusting.
• Misaligned jaw.
• Poor dental care.
• Facial injury.
While crooked or misaligned teeth may not cause further harm or issues to your dental and general teeth, they may cause some issues like;
• Improper chewing cause by underbite or overbite.
• Periodontal diseases like gum disease and tooth decay because you might have trouble cleaning between misaligned and crooked teeth.
• Excessive wear of teeth.
• Speech problems.
Sometimes, misaligned and crooked teeth may not cause any of the following dental issues, but you may not like how they look, which may cause low self-esteem. There are different ways that you can straighten your teeth, including;
This is the most common and effective method of straightening crooked teeth. Braces are periodontal gadgets place over the teeth and straighten your teeth by applying pressure to them.
They are especially effective in children whose jaws and gums are still flexible, making it easier for the teeth to move into position. Straightening your teeth using braces may take about 2-3 years, depending on how severely misaligned your teeth were and the types of braces you use.
Some types of braces include;
Metal braces
These are the most common type of braces used, and they are perfect for people who have severe teeth misalignment. They are attached to your teeth using bends, brackets, and flexible wires. Sometimes, you may need headgear attached to the last teeth, but you only wear it at night.
These days, metal braces have less metal and smaller brackets, making them more comfortable. They also have rubber bands in different colors in case you want to customize yours.
They also come with heat-activated archwires that use the body heat from the mouth to move the teeth quickly and more comfortably.
Ceramic braces
These braces look very similar to metal braces in shape and size but are made from a ceramic material, which blends easily to your teeth' natural color. They are as effective as metal braces in moving the teeth but are less noticeable.
Lingual braces
These are similar to traditional braces in their shape size and because they are metal. However, unlike metal braces, they are attached to the inside part of the tooth, making them less visible.
They are not as effective as metal and ceramic braces because they apply less pressure to teeth. That makes them perfect for people with minor misalignments because they take a long time to correct severe misalignment.
They are also uncomfortable because they are in direct contact with the tongue and are hard to clean.
Self-Ligating braces
These braces look similar to metal braces, but instead of using an elastic band to hold the wire in place, they use clips. That results in less friction on the braces, making it apply less pressure on the teeth.
They have the same efficacy as metal braces, increase control over their use, and make it easier for you to clean them and your teeth.
After you finish your braces treatment, your dentist recommends that you use retainers. Most of them are removable, and you only have to use them at night. However, if you only have a minor misalignment issue, your dentist may recommend using fixed retainers instead of braces.
Braces restrict you from participating in certain sports and eating certain foods. Also, you may get some teeth discoloration after using them for a long time because of the metal in contact with your teeth.
Invisalign are clear orthodontic devices made of plastic made to fit over your teeth. They are one of the most commonly used alternatives to braces for straightening your teeth. They straighten your teeth using the same principle as braces.
They apply pressure to the teeth, which then move them to the desired location. Unlike braces, Invisalign is only worn by adults. They are custom-made for you by your dentist, such that they perfectly fit over your teeth.
When you visit the dentist, he/she gives you a set of Invisalign, which you should wear for 2-3 weeks, after which you should get another set. Each set has a different design and size because your teeth will have moved after wearing the previous set.
To put on your Invisalign without problems, you need to dip in warm water. For maximum results, you should wear your Invisalign for 22 hours a day. They are clear, which makes them blend with your natural teeth.
They also apply less pressure to your teeth, which makes them more comfortable than braces. You can remove your Invisalign while eating, participating in sports, and brushing. That makes them convenient, and it’s easier for you to maintain proper oral health.
Since their pressure is not as much as that applied by braces, Invisalign is recommended only for minor teeth misalignments.
Unlike braces, you do not have to make a lot of visits to your dentist when using Invisalign. That is because you have a set of Invisalign, which you can change at home.
With Invisalign, you can participate in any sport you want, eat anything, and drink anything, because you can take them off. However, you need to be careful about cleaning them because some products may damage them.
Invisalign may have different timeframes to fully straighten different people's teeth. Some of the reasons for a different time frame may include spaces between the teeth, severity of misalignment, crowded teeth, and the condition of your jaw, gums, and teeth.
However, the average time for teeth straightening with Invisalign is around 12 months, but you may take a longer or shorter time. Your dentist should update you on your progress during your visits to pick up another set of Invisalign.
After using braces or Invisalign to straighten your teeth, dentists recommend that you have a wisdom tooth extraction if yours have not yet emerged. That is because they may cause teeth misalignment once they emerge.
Wisdom teeth may be too big to fit in the space on your jaw, and that may cause them to squeeze the nearby teeth, causing another misalignment. They may also emerge at an angle, which also causes them to push the nearby teeth.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.