Did you know that between one fifth and one third of the people getting braces nowadays are adults?
Gone are the days where you suffered through your teen years with a mouth full of mental - now you can enjoy that suffering in your 30s, 40s and beyond!
October is National Orthodontic Health Month - a bit ironic I suppose, since the last day of October means gorging on sweets for many adults!
The American Association of Orthodontists states that over one million adults wear braces - some wearing them again after having done so as a child - and some, like me, taking the plunge for the first time.
My teeth began to get more and more crooked and slanted after I hit 30 and even more so after I had children. At 35, the shift was pretty obvious and I thought to myself - I can do this now and get it over with, or I can cover my mouth every time I laugh, and remain unsmiling in every photo I take for the rest of my life. A lovely, healthy smile is so noticeable. Unfortunately, a crooked one is too. I figure 20 months (my estimated time frame in braces) isn't so bad. And either way - with or without braces, I dislike my teeth. The twenty months will pass anyway - so why not have straight teeth by the end of them? So 10 months ago I took the plunge.
I dislike my braces very much, to be honest. I was not a good candidate for the removable 'invisible' kind like Invisalign and I have the traditional train tracks, upper and lower. I can't eat what I want, I have to get them tightened every 6 weeks and they hurt for days after, and I get canker sores a lot, as my teeth shift. And let's not even talk about the cost!
But I am half way through the job already and am seeing a huge difference in my teeth. Despite the discomfort (and the fact that I still won't show my teeth in photos because of the braces, although I have learned to look happy without opening my mouth - a true talent!) I cannot wait to get them removed next summer and have my straight, white smile back! All worth it, for me.
And braces are not about vanity - crooked or slanted teeth cause discomfort in both the teeth and jaws and are far easier to clean and treat - contributing to healthier teeth and gums.
If you are an adult and thinking about braces, click here for some further information:
http://dentistry.about.com/od/orthodontics/a/adult_braces.htm
http://www.braces.org/beautifulsmile/adults/
Tell Us
Have you thought about getting braces, as an adult?