No one likes to hear that they need braces. Not only is it a substantial investment of time and money, you are probably dreading being embarrassed every time you smile or talk with your braces on. Orthodontic treatment isn’t as bad as you think it might be though. There are a lot of myths about orthodontic treatment that are just not true.
Here are 10 myths about orthodontic treatment and the real truth behind the myths:
1. Braces Are Going to Hurt
With today’s advances in orthodontic technology, this is just not true. With all the different options for treatment available today, they were all designed with the patient’s comfort in mind. Whether you choose to go for the traditional metal braces or Invisalign clear plastic aligners, the adjustment to wearing them will be minimum. You won’t have to suffer for straighter teeth.
2. You Are Going to Have a Metal Mouth for Years
It might have been true a couple of decades ago that orthodontic treatment meant a mouth full of metal for two to three years, but today there are so many more options. Besides, the traditional metal braces, you can choose ceramic braces which are less noticeable in the mouth, Invisalign clear plastic aligners that are removable, and lingual braces which are adhered to the backs of your teeth instead of the front. There is even the Six Month Smile, which utilizes clear plastic aligners to get you results in just six months.
Of course not all orthodontic issues can be resolved in the same manner so you will need to talk to your orthodontist to find out what types of treatment will be best for your particular situation.
3. Orthodontic Treatment is Too Expensive
Sometimes the price tag on the orthodontic treatment can be the biggest drawback to even considering getting braces. Don’t let money keep you from taking proper care of your overall health. If you have dental insurance, that will cover a big chunk and most orthodontist offer flexible payment plans. Also keep in mind that the cost of the different types of treatment are not all the same so you will able to find the one treatment that works best for your wallet.
4. You Will Starts to See Results Immediately
When you have suffered from embarrassing crooked teeth for a long time, you are certainly anxious to see results immediately, but you need to be patient. Straightening teeth is a subtle art that takes time. With a little patience and time, you will have a straighter, more beautiful smile before you know it.
5. Your Teeth Will Never Shift Again After Braces
After a big investment of time and money like this, of course the hope is that you will have straight teeth for the rest of your life. Unfortunately that is not guaranteed. Your teeth will constantly be shifting a little throughout your life and sometimes there might be an accident or illness which affects the alignment of your teeth later down the line.
The good news is that wearing a retainer at night can help keep your newly straightened teeth in place and if you do need a little tweaking to your alignment down their line there are plenty of options that don’t require full braces again.
6. Your Braces Off Day Is Set in Stone
As soon as your braces are put on you are probably already wondering when you can expect treatment to be done. Keep in mind that while the orthodontist can give you a projected timeline of what to expect during your treatment there is no set deadline. There can’t be. There are so many nuances to shifting teeth that there is always some wiggle room to the length of treatment. Don’t get frustrated if it takes a little longer than initially expected. Your beautiful smile will certainly be worth the wait.
7. Wisdom Teeth Are the Culprit
Some people are mistakenly under the belief that the reason they need braces is because of their wisdom teeth. This is not truth. While impacted wisdom teeth have their own set of problems, they have no real impact on any alignment issues you may or may not have.
8. You Have to Give Up Your Favorite Foods
One of the things patients dread the most about having to get braces is having to give up their favorite foods for a couple of years. This is not completely true…
With metal braces you do need to give up hard candy, popcorn and other foods that are hard or sticky because they can get stuck in your braces and cause problems. Certain drinks like wine and soda need to be limited as well because of how they can impact the conditions of your braces.
You don’t have these limitations with all your orthodontic options however. With Invisalign treatment, your aligners are removable so you can eat whatever you’d like. Just take the aligners out first. Talk to your orthodontist about the pros and cons for each type of treatment before making a final decision.
9. Crooked Teeth Is Just an Aesthetic Issue
This is probably the biggest myth of them all. Because of the investment braces are, a lot of people choose not to be treated at all. They convince themselves that a couple of crooked teeth gives their smile character and that there is no need to spend money they don’t have on a simple aesthetic issue.
But it is not just a simple aesthetic issue. When you have crooked teeth, it is easier to get food particles and bacteria stuck between them which means tooth decay and possible gum disease. And bad oral health has also been connected to other health issues like heart disease and diabetes.
By not taking care of any alignment issues now, you are setting yourself up for more painful and expensive health issues later in life. Take care of yourself now.
Want to learn more about current orthodontic treatment and how it can help improve your smile, contact Orthodontics Limited today.
