Misaligned or crooked teeth don’t just look bad, they can harm your oral health by making it harder to clean teeth and cause bite problems that make it tough to talk or eat. Although traditional braces have long been used to help properly align teeth, they come with drawbacks like discomfort, difficulty eating, and an unsightly appearance. Today Invisalign offers a clear alternative to traditional metal braces, provide patients with clear aligners that move teeth effectively over time. If you’re trying to decide between metal braces and Invisalign, here’s a closer look at some of the pros to using the Invisalign system.

Pro #1 – Invisalign Aligners are Barely Visible

One of the main pros of Invisalign aligners is that they are barely visible when you’re wearing them. Many patients don’t like the idea of wearing metal braces because they are so obvious. Patients have a tendency to hide their smile when they’re wearing metal braces, and this can be tough on your self-esteem, especially for teenagers. With Invisalign, these clear aligners can barely be seen, and in most cases, they aren’t noticeable at all. This way you can enjoy working towards a straighter, more beautiful smile without your treatment being noticeable to everyone else.

Pro #2 – Improved Comfort Over Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are known for causing discomfort. They’re often uncomfortable as they move teeth, and the wires and metal in the mouth can cause sores or cuts that are very painful. Invisalign braces are comfortable and smooth. They move teeth more gently as well, so you don’t deal with as much discomfort as you’re working towards your straighter smile.

Pro #3 – Enjoy Better Oral Health During Treatment

Since it’s easy to simply remove your Invisalign aligners to brush and floss your teeth, patients usually enjoy better oral health during this type of treatment as opposed to treatment with metal braces. It can be difficult to clean teeth with braces, and food is easily trapped between brackets and teeth. When you remove Invisalign aligners, you can easily get to all surfaces of the teeth for a better cleaning. You also can easily clean the aligners. Using Invisalign instead of metal braces may reduce the risk of demineralization of teeth and cavities around areas where brackets were placed.

Pro #4 – Fewer Dietary Restrictions

If you have metal braces, you’ll need to avoid having popcorn, hard raw veggies, and sticky foods. The great thing about Invisalign aligners is that they can easily be removed during mealtimes. This way you don’t have to worry about dealing with dietary restrictions. Just make sure that you take the time to clean teeth and your aligners before you put them back in so bacteria and food particles aren’t trapped against the teeth.

Pro #5 – Better Flexibility to Fit Into Your Lifestyle

Invisalign aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 22 hours a day. This gives you a bit of flexibility so you can fit your orthodontic treatment into your lifestyle. If you happen to enjoy playing contact sports, you can remove the aligners to wear a mouthguard to make sure your teeth are protected. If you’re taking photos at a wedding, you can slip the aligners out for those photos.

Pro #6 – A Faster Treatment Option

Invisalign is often a faster treatment option for crooked or misaligned teeth than metal braces are. Sometimes treatment can take up to five years with metal braces. Invisalign treatment generally only takes from 12-18 months for most people. This means that you may be able to enjoy your straighter smile faster when you choose Invisalign.

While Invisalign offers many pros, it’s not always the right choice for every person. It’s important to talk to your dentist about your orthodontic treatment needs. Invisalign offers many benefits and can help you get that beautiful, straight smile that you want, so talk to your dentist to find out if Invisalign is a great option for your unique situation.