You might face the necessity of getting braces treatment not only to finally get that perfect smile but also for other oral health-related issues. However, we understand that it might be daunting to commit to the time and money-consuming treatment as an adult. Please read our article about the benefits of modern braces and learn our tips on overcoming anxiety about adult braces.
Overcoming Anxiety About Adult Braces
We think that two critical steps in overcoming anxiety about adult braces are learning about the various health benefits the treatment offers and disproving the most common myths about braces.
Benefits of Getting Braces as an Adult
It is a common belief that the only benefit of braces is straight teeth. That is why people who are not particularly concerned with aesthetics do not consider braces necessary at all. Contrary to this belief, braces have a lot of nonbeauty-related benefits and can significantly improve not only your dental health but overall health, too. Braces can help with:
Makes Oral Hygiene Easier and More Effective
Crowded and misaligned teeth can be challenging to clean properly. Consistently insufficient oral hygiene leads to plaque and tartar buildup between your teeth and under the gum line. Over time, tooth decay and gum disease might develop, causing infections in the mouth and affecting your overall health.
Prevents Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Properly aligned teeth are easier to clean, meaning that bacteria are less likely to linger in the mouth and cause infections.
Improves Bite
An improper bite can result in unnecessary jaw stress when chewing food. Jaw tension can also lead to neck, shoulder, and headache pain.
Improves Digestion
The condition of your oral health can greatly influence your digestive tract. First, if infection lingers in the mouth due to ineffective cleaning of misaligned teeth, it can easily transition to the digestive system and cause problems. Second, proper bite and well-aligned teeth ensure that food is chewed properly, which improves digestion.
Improves Overall Health
Dental health significantly influences digestive organs and the condition of the whole body. Dental infections caused by insufficient hygiene or misaligned teeth can result in heart disease, diabetes, lung issues, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease, and pregnancy complications. Thus, straight teeth and good oral hygiene are the first steps to an overall healthy body.
Disproving Myths About Adult Braces
It might be helpful to learn about the most common myths related to braces to overcome anxiety about adult braces and better prepare yourself for the treatment.
Myth 1. Braces Cause a Lot of Pain
Some discomfort and soreness are indeed inevitable with braces treatment. Your teeth are forced to move through the gums to the desired position via constant pressure applied by braces. However, typically, patients do not experience pain all the time when wearing braces.
You will most likely feel some discomfort only after routine visits to your dentist when the position of the wires is adjusted to achieve the desired results. It takes a couple of days for the teeth to adjust to the pressure, and the soreness goes away. In addition, modern braces are designed to cause as little inconvenience to the patient as possible.
Myth 2. I Will Have to Wear Braces for a Very Long Time
Of course, the length of the treatment depends on the severity of each case, but only some have to wear braces for a long time to achieve the desired results. For some patients, the course of the treatment is only 15 months. On average, patients will wear their braces for 20 months. In more severe cases, the treatment can take up to 24 months. On top of that, braces deliver the first results quite soon, which makes it easier to put up with the treatment.
Myth 3. Braces Are Very Noticeable and Ugly
We are used to seeing braces as ugly and unattractive, mainly because of how they are portrayed in older films. However, in reality, modern braces are small and not as noticeable in the mouth. In addition, there are options for transparent braces or different colors to make wearing braces fun.
Make an Appointment Today
Make the first step towards a perfect smile with orthodontic care in Tarzana. Do not hesitate to call our office today and sign up for a consultation with one of our friendly and highly qualified dentists. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our dental office.