When you think of braces, who do you picture wearing them? If you’re like most Americans, children and teens come to mind. If you’re unhappy with your smile, you probably think you missed your chance for straight teeth, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Thanks to advances in technology, orthodontic treatment for adults has become more common while producing excellent results. So much so, The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) found that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 18.

With Age Comes New Changes

As we age, our bodies change. This is especially true for our teeth. For a variety of reasons, including injury, tooth loss, teeth grinding, loss of enamel, or natural growth, our teeth begin to shift towards the front of our mouths as we age. As a result, our teeth can become crooked and overcrowded. In some cases, patients may experience jaw pain or have difficulty properly cleaning their teeth.

Daily Habits and Shifting Teeth

Did you know that your daily habits also have an influence on how your teeth shift over time? Simple things that we routinely do, like sleeping on our stomachs or resting our hands on our heads while asleep can influence our teeth to shift. The good news is that there are ways to combat and prevent some of these shifts. Good posture, sleeping on your side or back and good oral hygiene can help reduce the effect of shifting.

It’s Never Too Late to Straighten Your Smile

While getting rid of bad habits and starting positive ones is important to your oral health, it won’t reverse the dental shifting that has already happened. For this reason, Dr. Graham Gardner, Dr. Natalie La Rochelle, and Dr. Dana Tang at Gardner and La Rochelle Orthodontics suggests adult orthodontic treatment. Unlike teens, most adults are able to self-govern themselves to follow directions for maintaining oral health best practices while undergoing orthodontic treatment. As a result, they typically experience better, faster results.

Schedule Your Consultation

Whether you’re familiar with adult orthodontics or not, we have a variety of orthodontic treatment options to fit the needs of every patient. From traditional metal, ceramic braces and clear aligners, contact our office to find out what treatment plan is best for you. Your smile is our priority!