Many people think of braces as a right of passage that we subject pre-teens & teens to in the midst of their most awkward years just to ensure they have a nice straight smile by the time they reach adulthood. But the truth is that braces can benefit people of all ages & not all of the reasons to get braces are aesthetic.

While most of us think of getting braces in order to have straight teeth, braces have a purpose beyond cosmetics. Braces can be used to treat misaligned bites (the technical term is malocclusion), which left untreated can contribute to difficulty chewing, jaw pain, & uneven wear on your teeth. Once your braces treatment is finished, you’ll get the benefit of a beautiful smile that is also functional.

In addition to this, braces have other benefits for your oral health: straight, properly spaced teeth are also easier to clean. When you teeth are properly aligned there are fewer places where your toothbrush can’t reach that might accumulate bacteria & plaque that could lead to tooth decay. The same goes for properly spaced teeth: it is much easier to floss teeth that are not too crowded.

Another side benefit of braces treatment is an improvement to your facial aesthetics. If the purpose of your braces is to fix an underbite, overbite or otherwise misaligned bite, the result may also result in a more proportional & attractive relationship between your jaw & the rest of your face. It should be noted that more severe jaw alignment problems cannot be fixed by braces alone & may also require jaw surgery. While facial aesthetics alone are not necessarily a reason to get braces, improvements in this area are often seen once treatment is finished.

Your options for orthodontic treatment may vary when it comes to braces that are for primarily for cosmetic versus structural purposes. Many of the clear or quick options, such as clear aligners, may not be able to fix more complex orthodontic problems the way that traditional braces can. But while traditional braces may not be as attractive or fast as other braces or aligners, you will still end up with a beautiful, straight smile at the end of your treatment. No two sets of teeth are quite the same, so start a discussion with your doctor or orthodontist about which braces options might be right for you.

Why not start getting your kids’ smiles in shape this summer? Kids, & often moms & dads, have a little more free time during the summer, so it’s a great time to get a jumpstart on necessary orthodontic treatment.

Braces require visits to the office every few weeks or months for adjustments & tightening. It makes sense to start this process during the summer when school is out so kids don’t have to miss class for their orthodontic appointments. Having the first few orthodontic appointments during the summer will minimize the number of times you’ll have to try to fit visits into you & your child’s schedules during the busy school year.

Getting braces during the summer also gives kids time to get used to new dental hygiene routine while they’re not rushed to get to school or stressed by evening homework & extracurriculars. New routines might include new brushing techniques & using a water jet flosser. Kids can take the extra time to get used to these teeth cleaning methods to ensure their smiles turn out as beautiful as possible when their braces treatment is finished.

Also, if you child gets braces during the summer, his means their removal & follow up appointments will also fall during school vacation. Depending on the length of treatment, they will get their braces off during the following summer, during next year’s winter holidays, or during the summer 24 months from now.

No matter what time of year orthodontics are started, you should know that while braces treatment results in a more beautiful smile, they also have very important health implications. Braces can help prevent future oral health problems, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, jaw problems, abnormal tooth wear. So, if your child’s dentist has recommended orthodontic treatment for your child, the sooner treatment starts, the healthier your child’s smile will be!