Your Go-To Resource For Teeth Straightening For Teenagers

Do you hide your smile in photos? Feel nervous when talking to new people because of your teeth? You’re not alone! Most teens worry about how their teeth look. The good news? Your teen years are the perfect time to fix your smile.

About 80% of teenagers need their teeth straightened. It’s super common! This guide from Dr. David Ross will tell you everything you need to know about getting a smile you’ll love to show off.

Fixing Your Teeth

Getting your teeth fixed as a teen makes a lot of sense:

• Your mouth is still growing, so teeth can be moved more easily
• Fixing problems now stops bigger teeth troubles later
• A nice smile helps you feel more sure of yourself
• You can get it done before heading to college

Did you know? Teens who get their teeth straightened say they feel better about themselves and smile more in pictures and when hanging out with friends!

Ways to Straighten Your Teeth

Forget old-school braces! Today’s options are way better:

Invisalign for Teens: These are clear plastic trays that fit over your teeth. They’re hard to see! You can take them out when you:

• Eat any foods you like
• Play sports
• Play instruments in band
• Go to dances or have pictures taken

The cool part? Invisalign Teen has blue dots that fade away over time. This helps your parents and dentist know if you’re wearing them enough hours each day.

Today’s Braces: These aren’t like the huge metal braces from the past! Now they’re:

• Smaller and less obvious
• Available with fun colored bands
• Much more comfortable
• Working faster to fix your teeth

Most teens only wear braces for 1-2 years – that’s shorter than your time in high school!

What It Really Feels Like

Here’s the honest truth about getting your teeth straightened:

• The first few days might feel weird and a little sore
• Your mouth might feel tender after checkups
• You’ll get used to them really fast – most teens say within a week
• The end result makes any small discomfort totally worth it

One of our teen patients said: “I was worried about how braces would feel, but it wasn’t bad at all. Now I love my smile and wish I’d done it sooner!”

Taking Care of Your Teeth During Treatment

Here’s how to keep your teeth healthy while they’re getting straight:

Food Tips:

• With Invisalign: You can eat anything! Just take out the trays first and brush your teeth before putting them back in.
• With braces: Stay away from really sticky candy, hard foods that might break your braces, and don’t chew on ice or pen caps.

Keeping Teeth Clean:

• Brush after you eat (yes, even at school – bring a small toothbrush!)
• Clean between your teeth daily (special tools make this easy with braces)
• Use mouth rinse to get spots you might miss

Sports and Activities:

• For sports where you might get hit, wear a mouth guard
• If you play an instrument, we can give you special wax if your braces bother your lips

Get Started in Hanover, PA and Lutherville-Timonium, MD

Getting your new smile is easy:

1. Come visit us for a free first meeting (with your parents)
2. We’ll take pictures of your teeth with a cool scanner (no yucky goop!)
3. See how your new smile will look on a computer
4. Pick which type of teeth straightening you want
5. Begin your path to an awesome smile!

Many families are surprised that fixing teeth can fit in their budget. Lots of dental plans help pay for it, and we can set up monthly payments that make it easier on your family.

Don’t wait to get a smile you love! The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll have teeth you’re proud to show off. Call us today to set up your free visit.

Remember: Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you – make it a good one!