Each New Year, we are full of resolutions to live a better life, to go after our dreams, but few of us make it out of February still sticking to our new resolve. In the last few years, resolutions have been focused more on living a healthier lifestyle and a big part of that is oral health. Until you have dental problems, you don’t realize how big an impact they have on all parts of your life. A straighter smile can not only give you more self-confidence to go after your dreams, it can improve your health. Consider treating yourself to a straighter smile with Invisalign this year.
Don’t let crooked teeth keep you from having a healthy mouth. If you have been self-conscious for years, but don’t relish the thought of having a mouth full of metal for any length of time, you will love Invisalign plastic aligners.
Why should you choose Invisalign? Let me count the ways:
A healthier smile
Crooked or misaligned teeth are not simply a cosmetic issue. When you have a crowded mouth and teeth are abutted against each other with very little space between, keeping your teeth clean is extra challenging. Even if you regularly brush and floss your teeth, food can easily get stuck between your teeth and between your teeth and your gums. If left unchecked, you could end up with a lot of cavities and even periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. Gum disease is also linked to heart disease so this is a double whammy of a problem. With a straighter smile, however, you will be able have a beautiful smile and a healthier you.
If you have a problem with your bite, that can be fixed with Invisalign as well. Whether you have an overbite or underbite, the plastic aligners will slowly move your jaw in a better position. Did you know that a bad bite can not only cause you difficulty eating and speaking, but it can also cause you jaw pain and headaches? Think about how much happier and healthier you will feel when all this is corrected. Why suffer in silence when there is an affordable solution available to you?
Practically invisible
What both adults and teens like the most about Invisalign is how most people don’t even realize they are wearing braces. Traditional metal braces can make your smile look a little worse before it gets better with all the wires and metal. Invisalign, however, uses clear plastic aligners that are barely noticeable when you smile. Unless someone is really looking directly inside your mouth, they may never know that you are wearing them. As the aligners gradually move your teeth, your smile will look straighter and straighter without being hampered by all that metal. No need for a grand reveal at the end of treatment when your smile doesn’t have to go in hiding.
More comfortable
Another downside of metal braces is that they are a permanent part of your mouth until the orthodontist removes them at the end of your treatment and the wires can sometimes be uncomfortable causing irritation to the inside of the cheek. Invisalign plastic aligners, on the other hand, are smooth and rounded and will not catch on anything. And even better, you can actually remove the aligners yourself when you eat or drink or when you are brushing or flossing your teeth. There are no food restrictions with Invisalign.
Sometimes with metal braces it can be a challenge to get all the food that get stuck in the braces and this can cause hygiene issues during treatment. That is not the case with Invisalign. If you wear a mouth guard to play sports or when you sleep, you can even remove the aligners to help the piece fit more securely. With metal braces there are a lot more restrictions. It is very important though to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day otherwise the treatment might not be as effective.
While both metal braces and Invisalign are both effective at giving you a straighter smile, the amount of pressure the metal braces put on your teeth can sometimes increase teeth decay. Invisalign will still give the same great results, but it is not as rough on your teeth.
Less treatment time for adults
If you are a teenager then unfortunately the length of treatment with Invisalign is about comparable to that for metal braces, but if you are an adult then you can finish treatment in as little time as a year or a year and a half. And remember, you are never too old for Invisalign. As long as you don’t have a lot of tooth decay and periodontal disease, Invisalign can be effective at any age.
No surprises or guesswork
When you choose an Invisalign provider, they will use a computer model to map out your treatment. He or she will go over it with you step by step when you first start treatment so you know what to expect. This transparency will give you extra confidence in the process, especially if you are hoping to have the aligners off by a certain time.
Your aligners are custom made for your mouth. Aligners are only put on a few teeth at a time instead of the whole mouth. This means you will receive a new set of aligners to wear every 2 weeks. Each stage of the process is meant to get you to a straighter smile. You will also be expected to have a checkup with the orthodontist about every 6 weeks.
Cleaning your aligners are easy too. You can simply use soap and warm water or you can ask your orthodontist about the Invisalign cleaning kit.
This New Year treat yourself to straighter smile and you will experience the dividends for years to come. No longer will you be self-conscious about how you look when you smile or in pictures and you will also see a vast improvement in your oral health. Learn more about Invisalign by scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist in Philadelphia who specializes in this type of treatment.
