A Breakdown of the Benefits of Invisalign

Your teeth are among the most noticeable facial features; they significantly affect your appearance and other people’s perception of you. A great smile is a major boost to your self-esteem; the opposite is true. For instance, if you have crooked teeth, you may be self-conscious, which could decrease your confidence. Fortunately, there are various orthodontic treatments that your Whitestone cosmetic dentist may recommend to straighten your teeth. Traditional braces are fairly common but many people prefer Invisalign or removal aligners for the following reasons.

Allow for better oral hygiene

One of the significant advantages of a removable aligner is that it allows you to care for your teeth as you normally would. Although the goal is to achieve straight teeth, you also want the healthiest teeth by the end of treatment. Traditional braces are a hassle since food particles and plaque often get stuck around and inside brackets. Removing the bits of food can be difficult, putting you at risk of gum disease or tooth decay. But with Invisalign, you can brush and floss normally without special equipment. It is also easy to remove the aligner trays and gently brush them with toothpaste so that there is no bacteria build-up.

More comfort

If you’ve ever worn metal braces, the issues with discomfort are not news to you. Metal braces have brackets with extruding edges that dig and cut into your lips and cheeks. These cuts can develop into slow-healing or non-healing wounds. Applying wax to the outside of the brackets may help, but this is short-lived since the wax often falls off quickly. However, invisible trays are made of high-quality resin; they have smooth edges, so you won’t have any sharp edges digging into your mouth. They also have more precise control over straightening your teeth since they are custom fit.

Fix dental issues

Crooked teeth affect your appearance and are associated with other dental problems. For example, crowded or widely spaced teeth elevate your risk of developing gum disease because your gums don’t fit properly around your teeth. Straightening your teeth can help reduce bad breath, gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, and chipping of teeth. Besides misaligned teeth, a removable aligner can also fix underbite or overbite. An abnormal bite causes various problems, including gum infections and irregular tooth erosion. It can also cause jaw aches, speech difficulties, and chewing issues. Correcting your bite eliminates these problems and reduces your risk of gum disease, cavities, and tooth loss.

No food restrictions

Many orthodontic treatments, including metal braces, involve food restrictions. If you have metal braces, you should avoid crunchy, hard, and sticky foods since the metal brackets can snap off or the wires can bend. As such, you can’t enjoy caramel, popcorn, gum, nuts, corn, and apples. But invisible aligners do not limit the foods you can eat; all foods and drinks are permissible since you can remove the trays and eat whatever you want.

If you are considering getting removable aligners, consult your dentist at Vida Dental Spa to know if they are the appropriate orthodontic treatment.