Crooked and misaligned teeth are embarrassing and hamper your bite strength. Malocclusion (misalignment of bite) follows and makes it harder to eat and sleep without grinding your teeth. When the teeth need to be straighter, failure to resolve the matter will depreciate your dental health. It’s advised that you learn how to straighten teeth without braces first. But, in an extreme case, you should also consider investing in traditional braces. Another option to consider is lingual braces, which are more conventional than clear aligners but less visible than typical dental braces.
Why Do We Need to Straighten Teeth?
Perfectly straight teeth are not only crucial for a picturesque smile. Alignment between the top and bottom sets of teeth is absolutely essential. Any crookedness will contribute to bite slippage, increasing the risk of chipped teeth, dental decay, and infection. Damage to the teeth gives food debris places to hide. Gum and periodontal disease will have become a more significant concern by this point.
What’s the Best Way to Straighten Teeth without Braces?
Without a doubt, braces serve as the most effective method for straightening teeth. This practice is a bit scary for some. The aesthetics of metal braces are daunting, especially for the body conscious. Living with unattractive teeth has been hard for long enough. Metal braces take a while to give the results.
Invisalign is a partial home-based treatment for crooked and crowded teeth. The results are typically faster than when you go with braces. Likewise, having clear aligners allows you to boast a proud smile and show off your newly cared-for teeth.
What is Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign is a type of clear aligner which is custom fit for your mouth. Dentists typically print around 30 trays and require patients to change to the following variant every two weeks. The angle of the mould is slightly different in each tray. Thus, you can healthfully shift the angle of your teeth to remove the crookedness. This procedure is not recommended for extreme cases. Braces are still the go-to solution if you require a significant change of tooth angle.
Related: How Long Does Invisalign Take to Straighten Teeth?
What are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign is cool because it is less invasive than metal braces. You can remove the tray any time you eat or brush your teeth. The maintenance is a little easier, and the trays are less likely to stain or corrode your teeth. The most significant benefit of Invisalign is that these aligners are clear and don’t affect your smile. You can still feel confident with your appearance instead of being too conscious of how your teeth show. Furthermore, the results are as fast and effective as metal braces for mild cases of misaligned teeth.
How Does Invisalign Straighten Your Teeth?
Invisalign slowly changes the range of motion which your teeth move within. Each printed tray controls the movement a little differently than the last. The first tray is a perfect fit for your existing teeth. The final tray is shaped with the result you want to achieve. The little changes over time effectively straighten teeth without braces, but the results are not promised. Those seeking a mild to moderate change will see the best results with Invisalign. Consult with a dental professional. Determine whether clear aligners are a good idea for you. The answer depends on whether the torsion is too significant for your crooked teeth to benefit from clear aligners.
Related: Caring for Your New Smile After Invisalign Dental Treatment
How to Straighten Teeth without Braces at Home
Invisalign is an excellent alternative because you can manage the treatment at home. Your dentist will help with the first tray, but you can change them out every two weeks by yourself. Please note that this is the closest you will find for a way to straighten your teeth at home without the use of braces. Many “manual straightening techniques” are available online, but you should avoid them at all costs. Using your tongue to press your teeth in a direction does not work. Gnawing on sticks doesn’t help, and elastics won’t serve the same purpose as braces. In fact, all these home remedies are putting your teeth at risk of injury.
The Side Effects of Straightening Teeth without Braces at Home
Home remedies for crooked teeth are not to be trusted and run the risk of severe side effects. Some concerns include the possibility of weakened enamel, tooth rot, infection, teeth falling out, and misalignment. Leaving these problems to snowball will only cause worse issues in the future. Choosing a treatment solution that damages your teeth will leave you requiring a much more severe solution later. While you might be able to avoid metal braces, Invisalign should be seen as the next best choice.
Good Habits to Keep Your Teeth Straight
Keep your teeth clean by flossing and brushing with care. Use Invisalign or a similar dental aligner to position the teeth properly. Follow best practices to avoid flare-ups of bruxism. The teeth are free to move around when you wear an aligner. As you won’t be able to wear a night guard, excessive teeth grinding is possible and can even cause dental damage.
Book a Consultation for Straightening Teeth Without Braces!
We understand that you want to straighten your teeth at home without braces. This goal is entirely achievable for some people and will take less than a year. The answer as to whether you will be successful is dependent on your teeth. Ultimately, an x-ray should be done to examine affected teeth and determine whether Invisalign will help improve straightness.
Invisalign is the industry-standard brace-free solution for crooked teeth. With these clear aligners, you can keep a confident smile. Plus, you can achieve straighter teeth as quickly as you can with braces. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If your dentist approves, Invisalign is a worthy choice over metal braces. If not, consider lingual braces for their similar aesthetic appeal.
Learn more from us about Invisalign and schedule an appointment if it speaks to you!