Many people link wearing braces to childhood, even though today almost everyone can get them at any age. But, most individuals that have them worldwide and in Australia are young, under 18.

There are plenty of orthodontic options nowadays when it comes to wearing braces among teens. There are various braces such as traditional metal and ceramic braces, lingual braces, Invisalign, self-ligating braces, etc. Each option has its pros and cons. Therefore, many parents still ask questions about the benefits of wearing braces for their teenage children.

Here are several answers about the advantages of wearing braces for teens.

Perfect oral and overall health

Wearing braces affects oral as well as overall health. For example, a teenager with straight teeth maintains oral hygiene easier. As food gets stuck between crooked teeth, it is harder to reach less approachable areas of the mouth and get rid of plaque and bacteria. That can cause severe oral issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. Furthermore, conditions like oral infections and bacteria can lead to serious health problems.

Prevention from those conditions is one of the essential long-term effects of wearing braces among teens. Therefore, although it is never too late to get the perfect smile, it is less invasive, more affordable, and easier to do during the teen years.

Oral health varies across Australia

Many studies show that some territories and states in Australia have poorer dental health than others. For example, the National Child Oral Health Study says that the prevalence of caries in children's baby teeth is higher in Northern Territory and Queensland than in other states and territories. There are many reasons for that, and one of them is the distance from cities with specialist dental offices.

In addition, according to Australian dental statistics, consuming too much sugar is the number one risk factor for poor dental health in general.

As we said above, wearing braces can do a lot for oral and overall health, so you should look for a trustworthy orthodontist that offers dental braces in Sydney, for example, and provide your kid with adequate braces.

Easier chewing

With uneven and crooked teeth, your child probably struggles with chewing their food. That is because misaligned teeth cause improper bites, which lead to pain and jaw muscle stiffness.

On the other hand, if your kid wears braces, it will align their teeth and improve the bite. Furthermore, their digestion will also be enhanced as they will chew properly. They don't have to force one side of their mouth or eat only soft food and miss out on some essential nutrients. We are sure you know how a well-balanced diet is vital, especially for teens.

Improve speech

Some kids with crooked and uneven teeth have issues with their speech. One of the most common is when they make certain sounds like whistling caused by the lower and upper teeth gap. The gaps between the teeth will disappear when wearing braces.

Namely, producing sound is pretty complicated. There are a few difficulties in articulation related to the jaw structure and teeth position. And your tongue has to touch the teeth in a particular way to produce some sounds or have space to create others.

The teeth also control airflow for pronouncing consonants and vowels, which can be a problem that will reflect on the child's speech.

Therefore, one of the advantages of wearing braces is aligning teeth and the jaw and, consequently, improving the clarity of a teen's speech.

Teeth protection

The teeth are more susceptible to damage when they stick out, especially when it comes to front teeth. Different types of braces can shift teeth back, which, in addition to the mouthguard, can prevent teenagers from tooth loss, particularly during sports activities.

In addition, when kids have aligned teeth, their lips can cover the teeth. That will not happen if they have protruding teeth. When they don't think about it, their mouth spontaneously opens, and the teeth stay unprotected from chipping and other injuries.

Braces can help the teeth move behind, and teenagers can naturally close their mouths.

In the end, we have to underline the importance of teens' self-esteem. A new smile due to braces will increase self-confidence, which is important for mental health and social life.