Did you know more than four million Americans wear braces? Although most people think of braces as something for children or teenagers, 25 percent of wearers are over eighteen.
Once upon a time, there was only one option available to people needing their teeth straightened. While effective, traditional braces may make some individuals feel self-conscious. Due to this, alternative options were developed.
One increasingly popular alternative is lingual braces. These are similar to traditional braces, except they’re placed behind the teeth instead of in front of them. Continue reading to learn four things you didn’t know about lingual braces to help you determine if they’re the right fit for you.
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Lingual Braces Are Almost Entirely Invisible
Since lingual braces are placed behind the teeth, they’re nearly invisible. It’s unlikely people will notice you wear braces during normal conversation or throughout your daily routine.
For many people, this is the most significant reason for choosing lingual braces over traditional ones. There’s no longer a reason to harm your self-confidence while working to straighten your teeth.
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You’ll Still Need to Watch What You Eat
People with lingual braces still need to avoid certain foods while wearing them. Foods that should generally be avoided while wearing lingual braces include:
- Chewing gum
- Toffee
- Ice
- Corn chips
- Hard taco shells
- Chocolate that’s hard or sticky
- Pretzels
- Nuts
- Hard cookies
- Hard crackers
It’s also important to cut meat into small bites before chewing to avoid them getting caught on the braces. The list above isn’t all-inclusive but provides a general idea of foods to avoid. You can learn more here about lingual braces and food.
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There’s More Flexibility
Lingual braces offer significantly more flexibility when compared to traditional braces. This is because lingual braces don’t need to be placed over all the teeth. Instead, they can be used to fix only specific teeth, such as the ones in the front if the back ones aren’t an issue.
Some types of lingual braces can even be customized to fit individual teeth. This means each tooth will have its brace fit precisely to it. Traditional braces, on the other hand, are generally crafted to fit the entire mouth instead.
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Results May Be Faster Than Traditional Braces
Some lingual braces may provide faster results when compared to traditional options. This benefit is specific to custom-fit braces. When the braces are explicitly created for each tooth, results can be up to twice as fast in some cases.
More Questions About Lingual Braces?
Many people choose braces to straighten their teeth, and among them, many feel self-conscious about the appearance of braces. Luckily, lingual braces are one alternative to this dilemma. They also provide several other key benefits, as described above.
Do you have more questions about lingual braces?
Browse our other posts. You’ll find articles on braces, oral health, and similar topics to help you learn more on the subject.
