Are you thinking about straightening your teeth, but worries about eating or looking strange hold you back? Thankfully, dentists and orthodontists have debunked such myths about adult braces. These are some of the most common things people say about adult braces and why they’re fake, not facts.
1. Adults Are Too Old For Braces
If you climbed into a time capsule and landed in the 1970s or 80s, you’d likely find most people accepted this myth as fact. While some adults wore braces then, they were mostly associated with correcting teenage dental issues. While children and teenagers still wear braces to adjust their teeth, orthodontists now treat one adult in every three patients.
2. Adults Can’t Eat Normally With Braces
Based on debunking the previous myth, you’d see many more people struggling to eat if only half of those adults receiving orthodontic treatment wore braces. Even kids with braces eat perfectly well after the initial soreness and irritation wear off.
It takes time to adjust to braces, but your eating habits will return to normal. However, something that isn’t a myth is having to watch what you eat – hard, chewy, crunchy and acidic foods are some you should avoid with braces.
3. Braces Are Purely Cosmetic
Smiling more can help you feel more confident and happier, so you can’t blame anybody for wanting to rectify their teeth for cosmetic reasons. In reality, adult braces are about more than an ideal selfie, with many patients facing orthodontic problems left uncorrected while growing up.
Adult braces can correct misaligned or damaged teeth, which are significant reasons for gum disease and adult eating or chewing concerns. If you think about the last point, they assist you in eating normally instead of hampering your ability to do so.
4. Braces Look Funny On Adults
Take that time capsule back 40 years again and compare braces from then to now. Observe the kids with braces in that era and how wearing them may have affected their confidence. No matter their appearance, these children showed signs of needing braces like overcrowding or gaps between their teeth and had limited aesthetic options.
Nowadays, advanced designs feature smaller and sleeker adult braces like changeable clear aligners and tooth-colored ceramics. These make wearing them more aesthetically appealing and often hardly noticeable, if those are concerns.
5. Adult Braces Will Trigger Metal Detectors
Even if you have braces that include metal these days, orthodontists now use medical-grade stainless steel alloy bands, brackets and wires. According to the Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics in 2012, these materials would not set off metal detectors, even airport security.
Even more progressive designs are now available, so you can travel with your braces. If you’re still concerned, consider non-metallic alternatives.
6. Adult Braces Are Unnecessary After Childhood Orthodontic Treatment
Childhood orthodontic treatment helps but may not eliminate the need for future care. Natural aging means your teeth shift over time, especially if you’ve had extractions. Stress- or sleep-induced teeth grinding or jaw clenching may require attention later in life because they can worsen bite issues, leading to cracks and fractures in your teeth.
Myths Surrounding Adult Braces Abound
A myth can start or gain traction when people are uncertain about change. Whether it’s health-related, work-related or even about happenings in your neighborhood, somebody can start a rumor that grows into more. Before you know it, a myth exists.
Many myths surrounding braces and adults stem from the distant past. Thanks to education and the digital age, debunking these myths is now easier. So, if you’ve been considering adult braces, you can rest easy about these six tall tales.
