It can be hard keeping up appearances on social media and in the lunch hall when you’re worried about your teeth (although trust us, everybody else is feeling self-conscious too!). However, it’s a good idea to correct crooked teeth for health reasons, as well as aesthetic, because they can also cause a range of problems such as:
- Gum or jawbone disease (periodontal disease)
- Risk to general health
- Excessive tooth wear and trauma
Why aren’t my teeth straight?
You might be able to blame your parents for this one – misaligned bites are often inherited traits. Teeth can also become crooked as you progress through adolescence, due to poor oral hygiene and bad habits (biting pens or fingers, excessive use of toothpicks or persistently resting your chin on your hand while you’re on your laptop or games console). Teeth may also come out after accidents, extractions or if your permanent teeth just don’t come down after the baby teeth have fallen out, leaving gaps that can be unsightly and cause surrounding teeth to move out of line.
Is there anything I can do to prevent my teeth becoming crooked?
If you lost teeth early as a child, or if your mouth is naturally small, unfortunately, you may be pre-disposed towards teeth that aren’t straight. However, there are some preventative steps you can take, and establishing good habits in the following areas can help ensure your teeth stay as straight as possible:
- Don’t sleep on your front – the subtle, repeated pressure of sleeping on your stomach can cause teeth to shift over time
- Be aware of your posture when studying – persistently resting your head in your hands creates uneven pressure on one side of the jaw that can cause your teeth to move
- Correct habits such as biting nails, chewing pens, blowing bubbles with gum; these can all have an accumulated impact on your teeth
- Fix any gaps where teeth are missing – these cause the force of chewing to be redistributed on the surrounding teeth
- Check your wisdom teeth. Removing them is not always the answer, but your dentist will be able to advise whether removing some or all of your wisdom teeth may help address any overcrowding
What are the options for straightening my teeth?
Clear Aligners have helped countless teenagers straighten their teeth with minimal cosmetic impact. They will successfully treat overly crowded or widely spaced teeth, and can even relieve more complex issues such as overbites, under-bites and cross-bites. They are the perfect way to perfectly straight teeth because they are:
- Discreet. Clear Aligners are a bespoke set of invisible, custom-made and removable teeth trays. Because there are no wires, brackets or bands, nobody need even know you are wearing them. And, as they are made of smooth plastic, they won’t irritate your cheeks and gums. You can continue to eat your favourite foods, brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy while wearing your Clear Aligner. You can even remove them for special occasions.
- Highly effective. Typically, achieving straight teeth with Clear Aligners takes 12-24 months, requiring between 18 and 30 custom-made aligners. These are changed every 2-3 weeks to move your teeth and gradually create the perfect smile. You will visit your dentist every six weeks for a check-up, to ask any questions and collect your next set of aligners.
- Affordable. Clear Aligners treatment requires no deposit and costs from just $57 per week, spread over 24 months. Interest-free payments may be available through zipMoney, subject to Credit Terms and Conditions.
