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Straightening your teeth has plenty of benefits. You’ll be prouder of your smile, and your bite may feel more comfortable. You can get additional benefits by selecting ClearCorrect aligners instead of traditional metal braces. Treatment will be more comfortable, you won’t need to cut out your favorite foods, and you’ll be able to keep your teeth clean throughout your treatment.

No Food Restrictions

Among the first things you may worry about when you consider treatments to straighten your teeth is missing out on your favorite foods. This can affect your daily life and make special occasions less fun, too. The following foods are forbidden with traditional metal braces, but not with ClearCorrect.

• Hard candies
• Chewy foods, such as bagels and many kinds of meat
• Sticky foods, such as fruit roll-ups, toffee, bubble gum, and caramels
• Popcorn, seeds, and nuts, since they can get stuck
• Hard foods, such as carrots and apples

The reason why you can’t eat these foods with braces is that they can stick in your braces, making your teeth dirty, or dislodge your braces. Neither of these is a problem with ClearCorrect because you get to remove the trays whenever you eat.

Ability to Clean Your Teeth

You can take your ClearCorrect aligners out of your mouth when it’s time to take care of your teeth. You can brush and floss normally, unlike with braces. That means that when you’re done with ClearCorrect treatment, you won’t have any nasty surprises like rotting teeth that were covered by dirty braces.

Invisible Treatment

No matter how young or old you are, you want to look your best. Teens want to fit in at school, and adults want to look professional and unremarkable. You can’t hide metal braces, but ClearCorrect treatment can be done almost in secret. The aligner trays are so close to being invisible that only your family and any coworkers or friends you choose to tell may know that you have them.

Straightening your teeth is an exciting proposition, but the thought of metal braces can be a barrier. With ClearCorrect treatment, you can get the benefits of straighter teeth without many of the hassles of braces. Contact our Idaho Falls, Rigby, Rexburg, Afton, and Salmon office to learn more!

At Lowder Orthodontics, Dr. Lowder and our staff have found that patients who like their smiles have better self-esteem. People who don’t like their smiles are often skittish about talking to other people. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, when women are asked about what they’d most like to change about themselves, many point to their smile. Despite wanting to change their smiles, quite a few of the people who are unhappy about that part of themselves won’t consider getting braces.

Most Americans Don’t Have Straight Teeth

The American Association of Orthodontics estimates that 4.5 million Americans wear braces or other orthodontic equipment to straighten their teeth and to get a healthier mouth. One in five of those braces wearers are women. The organization’s statistics also show that about 75 percent of the population doesn’t have straight teeth, and those people would benefit from getting braces.

While the main benefit of braces is straight teeth, and to improve the look of your smile, there are other benefits that make braces even more useful, including:

• Straighter teeth help people chew better.

• Straighter teeth give people a proper bite.

• People speak better when they have straighter teeth.

• When people have straight teeth, they have better overall gum and mouth health. A healthier mouth means flossing and brushing are easier, and that means your entire mouth stays healthy.
• A healthy mouth is also linked to a healthy body.

When you feel proud of those pearly whites, you feel better about your smile, and that contributes to a better self-image and improved self-esteem. Ultimately, that can lead to greater career success and a more fulfilling social life.

A great smile can go a long way. Scientific research suggests that people who smile are perceived as more attractive and confident than those who don’t flash their pearly whites. When it comes time to invest in orthodontics to improve your beautiful smile, choosing the best option can be daunting. Comparing Invisalign to traditional braces is a great way to determine what orthodontics make most sense for your unique smile.

How is Invisalign different?

Unlike traditional braces, in which brackets are affixed onto each tooth and connected by wires Invisalign corrects orthodontic problems using a set of clear trays. These trays are specially formed to fit your teeth, allowing you to wear them 24/7.

Aesthetics

One of the primary advantages of Invisalign is that the clear trays are nearly invisible. Particularly for adults self-conscious about appearing professional with traditional braces, Invisalign can correct orthodontic issues without capturing the notice of others. Their nearly invisible appearance is one of the topmost reasons that orthodontic patients choose Invisalign.

Complexity of the Orthodontic Problem

Invisalign works well for people who have relatively minor problems, such as crooked teeth or small gaps between teeth. For more complex problems, particularly issues with bite or vertical problems (i.e., one tooth being significantly higher than another), traditional braces may be better at pulling teeth into alignment.

Eating and Drinking

Invisalign trays are removable, meaning that you cannot eat or drink while wearing them. Unlike traditional braces, however, you are not limited in the foods you may eat. Chewy, sticky, or hard foods may be eaten, provided that you brush your teeth before reinserting the Invisalign trays.

In the end, only you can weigh the pros and cons of Invisalign versus traditional braces. Consult with Dr. Lowder to understand how these orthodontic interventions may work for your unique situation.

After patients complete their ClearCorrect treatment at our Idaho Falls, Rigby, Rexburg, Afton, and Salmon office, many will be given retainers to wear at night to prevent their teeth from moving. This is done after all treatment with any type of braces. There are two types of retainers available from Dr. Lowder: removable and permanent.

Removable Retainers

If you are given the option of having a clear removable retainer to use, it will most likely only need to be worn at bedtime. They are the easiest and most preferred and are able to be removed to brush your teeth, floss, eat, and drink.

Permanent Retainers

If you are not a good candidate for a clear removable retainer you will be given the option of having a permanent metal retainer placed behind your teeth. Permanent retainers are made from a thin metal wire that is attached to your teeth. This type of retainer is the perfect option for those who will not be disciplined enough to wear their removable retainer or keep track of where it is. Once this retainer is placed in the mouth it will provide protection from your teeth shifting for years.

In order to retain the alignment of your teeth and protect all of the orthodontic work you have had completed, speak with Dr. Lowder about which form of retainer would be best for your individual dental needs.