Whether it’s a desire to feel more professional in the workplace or the frustrations of a reluctance to smile that’s taking its toll, more and more adults are now seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their confidence and self-esteem – in fact, more than 60% of our patient-base are over the age of 18, proving that braces aren’t just for kids.
It’s never too late to get your smile straight
We all know what it feels like to have insecurities or parts of our bodies we’re not completely happy with, and we hear from our patients all too often that they feel reluctant to smile because they’re not satisfied with the alignment of their teeth. But braces, often thought of as expensive (or just for teenagers), have developed over the years giving us numerous orthodontic options to help our patients improve the appearance of their smile – and with finance options available.
Every year more and more adults opt to undergo orthodontic treatment to improve the appearance of their smile in order to help themselves feel more confident. In a study by Invisalign, it was concluded that 60% of people felt happier, more attractive, more successful and ultimately more confident with straighter teeth, directly correlating to success in school, home and professional life.
A healthy smile is a happy smile
It’s quite common for adults with crooked teeth to feel self-conscious about their smile, and the temptation to hide their teeth or even avoid social activities becomes all too easy. But did you know that straightening your teeth with braces not only improves the appearance of your smile (and your inner confidence), but your oral hygiene too?
Patients with misaligned teeth are at risk of developing oral health problems such as gum disease or tooth decay because their teeth are harder to clean and can soon become a breeding ground for bacteria – if you cannot reach every surface of every tooth with the bristles of your toothbrush, then how can you be sure your teeth are clean?
A smile is happiness you’ll find under your nose
It might sound strange, but having straight teeth does help to improve both digestion and speech. Chewing is a crucial step in the digestive process and poorly aligned teeth can make it harder to break the food down, causing us to swallow large chunks of food at a time which can feel very uncomfortable as it puts a heavier burden on the rest of the digestive system.
What’s more, an incorrect bite or jaw alignment can cause speech impediments including lisps, whistling or even word slurring. Our lips, tongue and teeth all work together to form words by controlling the airflow out of our mouths and with straight teeth, we’re able to speak more clearly and enunciate our words. And with the ability to speak correctly comes a certain degree of confidence.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight
We understand adults don’t particularly want to wear braces, but they do want straight teeth and, although it’s very common for patients to feel apprehensive prior to starting treatment from an aesthetics perspective, many adults have reported feeling more confident at the beginning of their orthodontic journey than before their treatment began, noting a more positive attitude too. We were therefore not surprised to learn that 92% of adult brace wearers felt more confident according to an a study from Invisalign.
So what would you do with a new heap or two of confidence?
- Apply for your dream job?
- Get back out into the dating scene or book your dream wedding?
- Perhaps your desire to ooze self confidence in social situations outweighs everything else?
From better digestion and improved speech to higher standards of oral hygiene and a boost in confidence, correcting dental misalignments with orthodontic treatment has numerous benefits. Whatever your ‘why,’ start your journey with Orthodontics For You today and claim your confidence with a FREE consultation.