Alternatives to Braces
By: Alex
Posted on : February 24, 2013  Views : 577

Most people in Hagerstown, MD will at some point need braces. Braces serve an important function in straightening teeth, but not everyone wants to wear traditional braces. Invisalign is an alternative, in Hagerstown, MD, to traditional braces that comes with several built in advantages. These include hygiene, the ability to eat certain foods without risking damage to the aligners and comfort.

The most obvious advantage of Invisalign over traditional braces is appearance. Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, which can be a huge relief for adults and self-conscious teens who want to straighten their teeth without the look of metal brackets and wires that is common with braces. Invisalign lets them keep their natural look.

Invisalign, unlike traditional braces, is removable. This means that the Invisalign aligners can be removed for tooth brushing and flossing. Being able to floss and brush normally gives Invisalign wearers a huge advantage. Traditional braces are glued to the teeth and connected by wires that stretch from one tooth to another, making flossing much more difficult and blocking access to teeth. Invisalign wearers are better able to preserve the health of their teeth and stave off tooth decay and gum disease while still getting all of the benefits of traditional braces because they do not have to brush and floss around these wires.

Another advantage to wearing removable aligners is that it allows the wearer to still eat his or her favorite foods. Chewy foods, hard foods and even chewing gum can do damage to traditional braces. Invisalign aligners can be removed at mealtime to prevent risk of damage and allow people to continue to eat what they want. Food also won’t end up getting stuck to the aligners, as if often does to braces.

Invisalign is made of plastic and the edges are smooth and unobtrusive in the mouth. This is a great advantage for anyone concerned about the comfort of traditional braces. The metal wires and brackets of traditional braces can rub up against the gums, causing irritation and swelling. Some people may also have allergies to the metal used in traditional braces. Although there are alternative metals available, Invisalign is another alternative to braces that can cause allergic reactions.

Invisalign aligners look better than traditional braces, but their advantages extend beyond appearance. The added comfort and convenience of Invisalign may make them a good choice for many people in Hagerstown, MD. They provide added advantages of hygiene, including the ability to brush normally, the ability to eat favorite foods without risking damage to the aligners and the comfort of smooth plastic over metal.