These days, we hear DIY everywhere. DIY or do-it-yourself trends usually involves simple steps of doing without any professional assistance or training. Many DIY projects work well in some home improvement tasks. In recent years, people use DIY dental health fads, such as Braces, but how effective are they?

DIY Braces And Teeth Straightening Kits

Sometimes, wearing dental braces can be a part of growing up. Dental braces are orthodontic devices that help align and straighten Teeth, as well as fix gaps. It is also used to position your teeth to correct your bite.

Over recent years, people are being enticed by DIY teeth-straightening kits that are offered online and promise to deliver dentist-quality results at an extremely low cost. Due to high costs, many have resorted to the DIY route to save money. While this offer sounds too good to be true, dental health professionals warn that using a DIY dental solution can be downright dangerous and can damage your teeth in the long run.

So, what makes Diy Braces dangerous to your dental health? Aside from not being performed by an experienced dental orthodontist, the problem lies in the materials used, which may include:

• Superglue
• Rubber bands
• Orthodontic wax
• Dental floss
• Hair elastics
• Jewelry-making bracelet beads
• Paper clips

Some people may have claimed that DIY braces have worked wonders on straightening their teeth. Still, it might potentially result in serious damage when you try to move your teeth on your own without orthodontic expertise and supervision.

Dentists warn that before taking your oral health into your own hands with DIY dental braces, it is extremely important to consult a licensed dental health professional.

Potential Risks Of DIY Braces

Many people desire to have straighter teeth. It is like a golden ticket that helps them influence first impressions and make them feel more confident about themselves. However, traditional dental braces and other teeth straightening appliances, such as Invisalign, may be beyond their price range. That is why some people are easily tempted to take matters into their own hands and try DIY braces to straighten their teeth.

While everyone dreams of having a beautiful, straight smile, here are several strong reasons why you should just say ‘No!’ to DIY teeth straightening:

• Your teeth may shift back again quickly.

DIY braces offer no guarantee that they will move your teeth into their proper positioning properly and permanently. Traditional dental braces work in slight increments to move teeth over time, while DIY braces often use quicker adjustments. Unfortunately, these quicker adjustments could mean your teeth will move back quickly to their original position after you discontinue use.

• You could have a higher risk of tooth loss.

DIY braces use tight rubber bands or other materials to shift your teeth quickly. However, these tightening materials can be damaging. Instead of straightening your teeth, makeshift braces could do more harm to the roots of your teeth. When braces are too tight, it could reduce the blood flow to your teeth, running the risk of damaging both your teeth and roots.

• You might be at a higher risk for gum infections. 

DIY braces use non-medical-grade materials, and may not be professionally sterilized. These materials can potentially cut and injure your gum tissue, causing open sores that could eventually develop into a gum infection.

Untreated gum infections can be quite serious, with bacteria entering your bloodstream. This can result in tooth loss or, in severe cases, bone loss in your jaw. This may require immediate surgery to remove the materials and minimize the damage.

• They may alter your bite (and not in a good way). 

DIY braces can shift your teeth out of place, even more. This worsens the position of your upper and lower jaws, affecting your ability to chew and speak. People resorting to makeshift braces could potentially develop worse bite issues that they had at the outset, requiring even more intensive treatment than they initially needed.

Considering the potential adverse outcomes of DIY braces, it is vital that you talk with a professional orthodontist to receive personalized care based on your unique dental needs. It may be an inexpensive alternative, but as the adage goes, ‘you get what you pay for.’

Getting the Right Treatment for Your Smile

Talking to a licensed orthodontist helps you become aware of the potential benefits and risks of DIY dental treatment. People considering makeshift braces or other teeth straightening options are seeking for answers. However, they do not have an orthodontist they can consult their problems with or simply cannot afford the treatment.

Before getting treatment, the orthodontist needs to examine your mouth and provide orthodontic treatment options to straighten your teeth:

• Traditional metal braces – This type of dental brace is the most commonly used and most affordable teeth straightening appliance today.
• Clear or ceramic braces – Clear or ceramic braces are a less noticeable alternative to traditional metal braces as they resemble the natural colour of the teeth. They use brackets to shift your teeth quicker than aligners.

• Invisalign – This newest trend in orthodontics involves the use of several custom-made plastic aligners that eventually help shift your teeth to their proper position. It is a great option for people concerned about the aesthetics of wearing dental braces.

See A Specialist

One of the reasons why you should see an orthodontist is that he/she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment to straighten crooked teeth and correct misaligned teeth, bites and jaw. While dentists and orthodontists are both dental health professionals who help improve your dental health, specialization sets an orthodontist apart from a dentist. An orthodontist is the most trained and qualified dental professional to treat misaligned teeth and jaws.

At Legacy Orthodontics, we provide our patients with a positive dental experience. We have affordable and budget-friendly payment options for our orthodontic treatments, including teeth straightening solutions. We also offer a comprehensive complimentary consultation performed by our licensed orthodontist in Edmonton.

Call us at (780) 643-7474 to book an appointment.

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