Dental Trends of the Future: Leaving the Past Behind

If you have noticed as an adult that your teeth have started to shift, and they are shifting more every day and now your smile is crooked, you want to see an orthodontist. Not only can this be damaging your appearance, but it could also be causing problems for health of your mouth.

For many adults a natural shift will occur, forcing the teeth to shift in the mouth, and this is the cause for the crookedness and misalignment. Here are a few reasons why you want to see an orthodontist to get braces put on, and things to consider when choosing braces.  

Crooked Teeth Increase the Risk of Cavities

When the teeth get pushed together and there isn't room for the toothbrush bristles or floss to properly clean the teeth, the teeth are at the risk of getting cavities. Straightening the teeth back out makes it easy to brush the teeth to keep them strong and white and it makes it easy to preserve the tooth enamel that shields teeth from cavities.

Trapped Bacteria Can Cause Gum Disease and Other Health Problems

Not being able to floss the teeth means the gum tissue can't be cared for, and this puts you at the risk of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease doesn't just discolor the gums, cause foul breath and can cause tooth damage, but it can also lead to serious health complications. Organ problems like heart disease have been linked to gum disease.

Clear Braces Can Help

Many adults aren't thrilled with the idea of having braces put on their teeth, but clear braces are an alternative to metal. Clear braces fit over the teeth in the form of a mouthpiece and shift the teeth into place just like bracket and wire braces. These are clear and are removed when you eat, so food doesn't get caught. They are easy to clean, and the clear pieces are hardly noticeable to someone when having a conversation.

If you are an adult and your teeth are suddenly crooked, don't ignore the problem and make sure you get to an orthodontist before the problem gets worse. You don't want to put your oral health at risk, or have other problems to treat because you let the shifting go without attention. If the shifting is causing you to grind your teeth or causes a misalignment, you could start to have jaw pain and jaw problems without treatment.