Your smile. It’s one of the most common things we take for granted as adults. We were all taught just how to take care of our smiles when we were children. And those habits have stuck with us for decades.
According to the most recent estimate from the American Association of Orthodontists, adults over the age of 18 male up one in three of all orthodontist visits in North America. And the need to make a good first impression has never been more critical than in 2020. But adult orthodontic care is about more than just properly brushing and flossing your teeth each day. It’s not just about cosmetic appearances. It’s about the health and strength of your teeth.
As we get older, our teeth are subject to a much greater amount of stress and wear than we had as children. The potential for gum decay, impacted or chipped teeth, bruising and overcrowding becomes significantly more pronounced over the age of 18. The result isn’t just an unsightly smile. It can mean a painful smile; one that can turn even everyday tasks like chewing properly into a burden.
But adult orthodontic care doesn’t necessarily mean expensive and tedious dental visits. And it can help turn your smile from an embarrassment into confidence. Here are some of the more common orthodontic issues facing many adults.
Shifting Teeth
It’s no secret that our bodies change as we grow older. Metabolism can decrease and youthful resilience and buoyancy can lead to sluggishness and inertia quicker than we think. But what you may not know is that our teeth can change just as rapidly as our bodies., with a once-perfect smile now transformed into crooked and shifting teeth. It’s not unheard of for many adults to wear retainers. But unfortunately, the vast majority of them need to be changed every few years to accommodate further displacement.
Tooth Crowding and Tooth Loss
Most Americans over a particular age are aware that bone density loss can present a dramatic problem. Few, however, are aware that bone density loss in the jaw is one of the more common forms and tends to be even more common in individuals who have been previously diagnosed with osteoporosis. Density loss leads to a mismatched jawbone, often resulting in overcrowding of the bottom teeth and tooth loss in many cases.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is a jaw disorder that occurs due to a misalignment of the upper and lower jaws, resulting in excessive tooth grinding, painful sinus headaches and flashes of sharp pain in the joints of your jaw. It’s common for many patients suffering from malocclusion to have severe difficulty chewing and digesting food, which can lead to dramatic shifts in both their metabolism as well as their immune systems.
How Adult Orthodontic Treatment Can Help
Adult orthodontic treatment isn’t merely for cosmetic reasons. And it doesn’t take the place of regular dental checkups. Orthodontic treatment for adults is a corrective treatment that can reverse serious oral health problems which could otherwise result in displacement, decay, and outright loss.
While the average orthodontic visit is somewhat lengthier for adults than children, state of the art technologies like Invisalign® and other forms of clear braces don’t just result in a great smile. They can actually help keep your teeth and gums in perfect condition, combating disease, and common jaw disorders which can from the natural effects of age.
But adult orthodontic care gives back more than just oral care. It gives you back your confidence. It gives you back your vitality. And while no treatment will ever be a fountain of youth, adult orthodontic treatment gives the world back something even more valuable. Your smile.
