Experts estimate that as much as 70% of US children receive braces before reaching adulthood.
However, that number might be even higher if more people knew about new orthodontic options. Clear aligners for teens are a far superior option than traditional metal braces in several different ways.
At first, many people think that clear aligners are only better because they call less attention to themselves. However, by the end of this article, we hope you will appreciate why clear aligners are the right choice for a long list of reasons.
Read on to learn all about the top reasons that clear aligners might be the right choice for straightening your teen’s teeth!
1. Enjoy the Subtlety of Invisalign Aligners
Many teens hated receiving traditional orthodontics because it meant calling attention to their teeth and braces for years. Given how sensitive adolescents can be to peer perceptions, this was often their biggest concern. However, clear aligners provide excellent straightening benefits without being so obvious.
In fact, many teens meet and speak with people without them ever noticing their aligners. Although you might be able to notice your teen’s aligners if you look closely enough, they are still a much more graceful option compared to metal brackets and wires.
2. Maintain Your Oral Hygiene Habits
Traditional braces were also extremely difficult to clean around. A normal toothbrush would struggle to get in between brackets and behind wires. On top of that, it was impossible to floss using normal methods.
Instead, teens had to learn to use special toothbrushes and flossing tools that were often awkward to manage. This made maintaining oral hygiene habits much more time-consuming and unpleasant.
On top of that, the results were often inferior. Some teens found that they ended up with more cavities because they had more trouble cleaning their mouths once they received braces.
However, you can pop clear aligners out of your mouth. That means that you can continue using the same tools and practices for keeping your mouth clean. That makes clear aligners a much more convenient choice for teens.
3. Enjoy Straight Teeth Without Changing Your Diet
Another big problem with metal braces is that they were sensitive to being bent or even knocked off of the teeth. Pretzels, steak, and many other foods were too tough for sensitive metal braces. On top of that, it was impossible to enjoy things like gum that could stick to the braces or pull on the wires.
Teens who received braces used to have to memorize a long list of foods to avoid. In many cases, even this was not enough to keep them from occasionally knocking off a bracket, requiring them to take an extra visit to the orthodontic office.
However, because you can remove clear aligners, you don’t have to adjust your eating habits at all. All you have to do is pop them out to eat and then put them back in once you are done.
There is also a much lower chance that your teen will need to take any special visits to the orthodontist to fix problems with their aligners.
4. Protect Your Teeth With Aligners
Some people grind their teeth in their sleep without even knowing it. As a result, they end up wearing away their enamel, increasing their teeth’s vulnerability to cavities. Teens who grind their teeth may also experience more pain and discomfort as they eat and speak.
However, it is important for teens to wear their clear aligners while they sleep to maximize their straightening effects. These aligners can protect their enamel from any teeth-grinding habits. That can decrease both discomfort and cavities for your teen.
5. Enjoy Comfortable Types of Aligners
One of the worst things about traditional metal braces was that they often caused pain inside the mouth. At the ends of metal braces, wires could stick out, scratching the inside of the cheeks.
On top of that, the rough metal brackets would constantly rub against the inside of the mouth, causing discomfort and calluses. Many people had to learn how to speak and eat carefully to avoid scratching their mouths too much with their braces.
However, aligners are made out of powerful plastics that provide a smooth surface. As a result, they do not cause any scratching or cuts inside the mouth.
6. Finish Your Orthodontic Treatment Faster
In the past, it often took between 2 and 4 years for metal braces to finish straightening someone’s teeth. Given how much more convenient aligners are, you might imagine that they would be less effective and take longer to finish their work. The good news is that the exact opposite is true!
In many cases, your teen will be able to finish their teeth straightening process after only one year of using clear aligners. In some cases, aligners can even finish straightening a mouth of teeth after only 6 months. Although there are some cases that take longer, the general rule is still that clear aligners get the job done much faster!
7. Remove Your Aligners for Special Occasions
Although clear aligners are much subtler than traditional metal braces, they are still noticeable if you look closely enough. That can make some teens self-conscious during photo shoots, school dances, and other special occasions.
It is important that your teen wear their aligners almost all the time so that they can finish their intended work. However, there is no significant harm in your teen removing their aligners for a few hours once in a while for a special occasion. That can make them an even more convenient choice that your teen will not mind receiving for the sake of their straight teeth.
Enjoy the Top Benefits of Clear Aligners for Teens
In the past, many teens were reluctant to receive orthodontic treatment even though they appreciated it in the long run. However, with clear aligners for teens, is much more common for teens to embrace the short-term inconvenience of aligners for the sake of the many benefits they can provide. Improving orthodontic technology is making it easier to enjoy straight teeth than ever before.
To find out more about how you can receive the best orthodontic treatment in Webster, NY for your teen, contact us at Gleason Orthodontics at any time!
