General Facts About Braces, Both Clear Aligners and Traditional Braces

The number of people who choose braces for their teeth rises each year. Professionals believe that’s because this is the number one best way to fix a multitude of issues with your teeth. In fact, there’s really no other way to eliminate spaces, straighten crooked teeth and push teeth into alignment. The real question for most people is what type of braces to get.

There are a few problems that clear aligners cannot handle. Traditional braces are still the cheapest and best way to give you the perfect smile. But for many people, clear aligners will work. They’re much easier to wear and they are barely noticeable. With traditional braces, you may have discomfort when eating. Flossing and brushing are more difficult. The metal wires can poke your mouth and be painful.

For those who qualify for Invisalign or some other type of clear aligner, the journey to the perfect smile will be much easier. Your orthodontist will examine you and take some X-rays. He or she will talk to you about what you want done. Most of us have a good idea about how we’d like our teeth to look and the types of issues we have. After your initial consultation, the orthodontist will put together a treatment plan especially for you.

In many cases, the orthodontist will give you the cost and timeline for traditional metal braces and for Invisalign. If you’re not a good candidate for Invisalign then don’t despair. There are still some good options besides metal braces. For instance, ceramic braces are very similar to metal braces but the material used is an attractive color and made of a sturdy ceramic material. The rubber ligatures are also an attractive color so they will blend in well. Ceramic braces aren’t as sturdy as metal braces though so that means you may break or damage them.

Regardless of what type of braces you get, be sure to keep your teeth clean during the course of your treatment. Food particles can easily get lodged in braces and cause a buildup of bacteria. Make a point of showing up for all your appointments so the orthodontist can make sure your teeth are moving in the proper direction. That’ the number one problem with DIY aligners. There’s no orthodontist to examine your mouth each month to ensure that you’re getting the expected results.

Before choosing DIY aligners, speak to a professional orthodontist. In many cases, you can get braces for just a bit more than DIY aligners, plus you’ll have someone to help you with your journey to a perfect smile.