Crooked front teeth can be a massive confidence killer, but they can also be bad for your health, leading to complications such as tooth decay and gum disease.
It doesn't matter whether you have just one crooked tooth or many, getting treatment can transform your smile (and your health, too!).
Some cases of crooked teeth require just a simple adjustment, and with so many cosmetic dentistry options available today, there's really no excuse not to seek treatment.
From clear aligners to traditional metal braces, this article will fill you in on all the ways you can achieve straighter teeth in just a few months.
On that note, wanting straight teeth actually isn't all about looks – it's about health too. Crooked and gapped teeth can lead to a whole host of health-related issues if left untreated for prolonged periods of time, such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease, and tooth loss.
Crowded teeth, in particular, are notoriously hard to clean properly, and can harbor nasty bacteria where food gets trapped. This, in turn, can lead to bad breath and periodontal disease – an infection that damages the tissues that hold your teeth in place.
In some cases, this kind of infection can enter your bloodstream via your blood vessels, leaving you at risk of things like heart disease, stroke and artery damage. With this in mind, you may want to reconsider not brushing before bed!
People who have crooked teeth often have a misaligned bite, which doesn't just strain the teeth, but puts stress on the joints of the jaw too. The constant pressure on these muscles and joints can lead to chronic jaw pain, earaches and headaches, tinnitus, and even dizziness. Many people who have struggled with these pains for years find that they go away after treating their malocclusion.
No one likes the thought of aging, but how many people actually consider tooth care as part of their anti-aging routine? It goes without saying that straight teeth are easier to clean, and clean teeth are less susceptible to premature wearing, decay, and damage. To put it simply, if you want to keep the dentures at bay, you should invest in a straighter smile today.
One thing's for sure – if you want straighter teeth, you need braces. Luckily, there is a range of cosmetic dentistry options to choose from to suit your budget and preferences. Here are all the different kinds of braces you can use to straighten your front teeth:
Clear aligners offer an attractive solution to people who want to achieve a straight smile without having to wear the traditional metal braces. Clear aligners work by gently moving the teeth over the course of a few months until they're perfectly straight. Being so comfortable and discreet, they're a very popular solution for both adults and kids.
Clear aligners generally must only be removed when eating, and the aligner trays must be changed every 2-3 weeks as your teeth gradually straighten out. You can speak to any of our certified dentists and orthodontists to find out if clear aligners are right for you.
Lingual braces are a bonded metal brace which is glued to the reverse side of your teeth. They are also a very popular option for those who prefer a discreet tooth straightening option.
They're also much more comfortable than traditional metal braces, thanks to the absence of brackets and wires. Generally, lingual braces are best used when fixing the teeth that are shown when smiling, making them ideal for straightening crooked front teeth.
Otherwise known as 'train-tracks', traditional braces are attached to your teeth using brackets and wires, with the wires being held in place by rubber bands.
Over the course of treatment, your orthodontist will tighten and adjust the pressure of the brace until your teeth are perfectly straight. The downside of traditional metal braces is their harsh appearance and the discomfort that can be caused by friction between the brace and wire.
Like traditional braces, Damon braces are designed to alleviate the friction between the brace and wire, making them more comfortable for the wearer. This is achieved by using a slide mechanism, rather than the traditional rubber brand.
Damon braces are also slightly more discreet than the traditional rubber band, and have been shown to be more hygienic too, as they're less likely to harbour plaque and bacteria.
While braces are generally the recommended orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth, there are a few alternative options to achieving a straighter smile.
In some cases, it may be possible for an oral surgeon to straighten your teeth.
Orthognathic surgery involves moving the position of your jaw to align your teeth.
The cost for this kind of surgery can be very high, and a dentist won't normally recommend this treatment unless your teeth and jaw give you serious trouble in your everyday life.
Some people may prefer to opt for cosmetic treatments such as veneers or dental bonding, but these solutions only take care of the aesthetics of your teeth, and don't improve your oral health.
Veneers and dental bonding are typically used for teeth that are chipped, have large gaps, or that don't line up well.
SmileStories always recommends consulting your orthodontist or dentist before choosing cosmetic dentistry over braces.
For many people, having a whole set of permanent braces installed is a bit too extreme for the sake of fixing one tooth.
For this reason, many people prefer to wear a clear aligner, such as ClearCorrect, over the course of a few weeks or months instead. This way, they can straighten their teeth in a super discreet way, and enjoy the flexibility of a removable brace.
So there you have it! Those were all the ways you can straighten your front teeth.
At SmileStories we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile they can feel good about. Why not book an appointment with one of our certified orthodontists or dentists and find out which treatment option is best for you?
