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Brushing and flossing your teeth in addition to seeing your normal dentist for periodic checkups and cleanings are all important steps if you want a healthy smile. However, if you have crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, or crowding/spacing, orthodontic treatment may be necessary. While most people have heard of braces, orthodontic care is not understood well by most people. This guide will address a few common myths regarding orthodontics.

Orthodontics Too Expensive

One of the most common myths people believe is that orthodontic care is too expensive. In reality, orthodontic care can be a great investment for your smile and underlying oral health.

Without correcting a bite and realigning the smile, your teeth will be placed under enormous pressure. Adjacent teeth will sit too closely to one another, wearing down the tooth enamel and increasing the risk of decay and tooth loss. These dental issues can lead to costly dental treatments in the future in addition to pain and discomfort.

While it will be an upfront cost, orthodontic care is a worthwhile investment for enhancing your smile, reducing pain, and preventing future dental complications.

Braces are for Teens

Another myth you probably believe is that orthodontic treatment, especially braces, are just for teenagers. Again, this is a myth that needs to be addressed, since many people forego orthodontic care because they feel they are too old or their children are too young.

Adults are actually great candidates for orthodontic care. Traditional metal braces are options to consider as well as the clear orthodontic aligner systems that move the teeth into an aligned position gradually over time.

If you are a parent of a younger child, you may be surprised to learn orthodontic treatment can be beneficial to them, as well. Children as young as 6 or 7 years old can benefit from repairing misaligned bites.

DIY Orthodontics are Just as Effective

There are many companies that advertise braces online. You may need to take impressions of your smile to send into a lab where they create orthodontic aligners that move your teeth over time.

While they may seem affordable and incredibly convenient, the DIY orthodontic solutions are not as effective as you may hope. Using the DIY aligners or at-home orthodontics may actually end up causing more harm to your smile than good. Remember that orthodontic care requires the support and supervision of an orthodontist, which is not possible with the DIY aligner systems. Contact a service, like Eberting Orthodontics, for more help.