DIY braces and teeth-straightening kits have exploded in popularity recently as a way to save money. However, the results are not nearly as effective or long-lasting as professional braces or Invisalign, and can even cause more damage to your teeth in the long run. Dental care is best left to the professionals, as they understand the proper way to take care of your teeth. Here are 6 reasons why you should leave teeth straightening to the professionals.
What are DIY Braces?
People have tried to make do-it-yourself braces from materials such as:
- Rubber bands
- Hair elastics
- Paper clips
- Superglue
- Orthodontic wax
- Dental floss
However, these materials were not designed to straighten teeth, and they are typically not sterile, so they can lead to infections and even tooth loss. That hasn’t stopped vloggers from gaining popularity from telling teens to make their own braces. Some people with 3D printers are even making and selling their own teeth straightening kits without considering the consequences. Straightening your smile via traditional orthodontic treatment might be expensive, but the drawbacks of DIY braces are not worth the money you save. Let’s look at 6 reasons why you should seek professional treatment instead.
Your Teeth Can Shift Back
Even if you manage to straighten your teeth at home, the results are not likely to last. Braces and Invisalign are designed to gradually move your teeth into a straight position, because quick adjustments are much more likely to shift back into their previous position. In addition, without the retainer prescribed after traditional orthodontic treatment, your teeth will revert back during the night.
Your Teeth Could Fall Out
DIY braces are typically tighter than traditional ones, which can restrict the flow of blood to the teeth. Without proper circulation, your teeth can gradually decay until they need to be pulled by a dentist.
You Could Contract Gum Disease
Items like paper clips and rubber bands can cut into the gums, causing open wounds that can’t heal while you continue to wear the braces. These sores allow ample opportunity for bacteria to enter your gums and cause infection. When left untreated, gum disease can eventually cause your teeth to become loose and fall out. This requires more dental work to get treated, so you might end up spending more money to fix the problems than you would have spent on Invisalign or braces.
You Might Develop a Speech Impediment
Because DIY braces affect your whole mouth, other teeth can shift in ways you didn’t anticipate. Your upper and lower jaw might not fit together like they used to. This could affect your ability to chew and speak. You could develop a permanent lisp or even apraxia of speech, a condition that means you have to exert more effort to say certain words.
You May Deal with Emotional Trauma
The consequences of worsening your smile when you were trying to better it can be severe. Your self-esteem can plummet. You may fall into a state of depression. Fixing your teeth is not worth sacrificing your mental health.
You’ll Probably Pay More Than You Saved
The whole point of DIY braces is to save money, but they are likely to cause damage that need expensive procedures to fix. You may have to replace missing teeth with dentures or implants. You may need surgery to treat infections or bone loss. You’re much better off paying the cost of traditional treatment and saving money in the long run.
DIY should be reserved for things like arts and crafts, not your mental or physical health, and especially not your oral health. To save money, time, and pain, it’s better to contact your dentist to seek professional braces or Invisalign. Contact your dentist today to get started on the treatment that’s right for you.
About the Practice
At Advanced Smile Design in Willow Grove, PA, we treat all ages and all area of dental problems under one roof. Drs. Krunal Patel and Barry Isdaner have both taken continuing education courses to advance their knowledge of dentistry to provide the best level of care possible to patients. They offer Invisalign as a way to professionally and safely straighten your smile. For more info call (215)-398-1361 or click here.
