Aibu to consider adult braces

[sunshine244]

My teeth are awful -crooked and crowded. I was offered a brace as a child but refused because I was scared it would be sore (I'm ND with sensory issues). Its not just a cosmetic issue but cleaning is hard and I'm getting erosion from one tooth rubbing so much.

I'm mid 40s and my teeth have got a bit worse over time. I'm considering a clear aligners but wondering if doing that as an adult is worthwhile. Do the teeth just go back over time? Is it very uncomfortable? Will it look stupid for someone so old?

Would love to hear any adult experiences of clear aligners or other brace options.

No experience myself, but I know lots of adults who have or have had braces at 40 or older, so you won't look odd

I have recently finished Invisalign at 65. Took a little getting used to and taking them out to eat and drink was a nuisance but now am really pleased. Cleaning teeth much easier. Will have to wear retainers at night for ever or they will move back. Really glad I did it though.

There is a noticeable increase in adults with braces. Go for it!

My DH got braces when he was around 45. His only regret is that he didn't do it sooner.
He always hated his teeth and it affected his confidence a lot.
Go for it.

I had braces as a teen, then again at 27. Full metal train tracks both times and followed by permanent retainers as an adult - best money I've ever spent. Your teeth never stop moving and so the permanent retainer is a godsend. Do it OP, nobody will care, it's such an investment in you. I really respect it when I see it now because I see the commitment, investment and future thinking.

My daughter's teeth are awful and I've just got her on the list. If we don't need the children's NHS threshold for funded ones I'll be paying again as it, to me, is so important. She is also ND and nervous but knows it needs to be done.

Do it. Absolute game changer, I can now smile happily for a photo without being self conscious. My only regret is that I didn’t do it years ago.

I have retainers that I wear at night to stop them moving back.

On the comfort point, it was painful for the first 3/4 days. Your teeth are being pushed and they’re not used to it. But it eased after a few days and was fine after that.

I will also say for the first 3/4 days my mouth was full of saliva (because your brain is reacting to something being in your mouth) and constantly swallowing it made feel a nauseous. But again, it was only a few days and it’s not the same for everyone .

I got braces on my upper teeth just before turning 40, and by the sounds of it my teeth weren’t nearly as crooked as yours. My dentist recommended train tracks, which were tooth coloured so less noticeable. I now have a fixed wire behind my top front 4 teeth and a retainer to wear at night.
Overall a great experience and I would recommend. Nothing worse than unsightly teeth.

I was listening to the difference between Invisalign and braces and I’d advise if you have had teeth issues go to a good dentist to get their advice- there was a woman saying how everyone runs for their nearest Invisalign but some are very money oriented and not knowledgeable enough and it leads to issues later on

I’m 46 and been seen by an orthodontist just this week who has said I may be eligible for NHS braces. I had an adult tooth missing from childhood, bottom teeth are crowded and apparently I have an overbite too! Was never offered braces as a child. I hate my teeth and rarely smile in pictures.

will hear in approx 4 months if funding application has been successful, if it’s denied I won’t be able to afford £6k which I’ve been quoted for private work.

I’ve just finished my Invisalign at 44. Absolutely love my teeth now. The difference in photos is unreal, you can really see how hard I was trying to smile without showing my teeth on pics before I had the braces.

id say with Invisalign it was quite uncomfortable at first, and I had weekly tray changes and the first day of each new tray was tight but absolutely nothing unmanageable. I started changing them at nighttime instead and by the morning I didn’t feel much discomfort. Honestly go for it

I’ve a fixed wire behind my teeth and waiting on my night retainer now so hopefully no movement.

I've also just finished Invisalign at 65. It's been two years and there were times I hated it - discomfort, lisping, not being able to have a cuppa whenever I wanted. Really glad I had it done now.

I will have to wear night time retainers for life although my ortho says I can gradually reduce the number of nights after a few years. I also have a fixed retainer but it's not noticeable.

I did Invisalign 4/5 years ago, in my mid-30s. Really happy I did it. It is quite restrictive but I lost weight because it completely eliminated snacking (too much hassle to take them out, eat and clean teeth before putting them back in for snacks as well as meals). Got used to carrying a little make up bag round with me with my toothbrush and toothpaste and brushing my teeth in public loos and so on when out and about!

I still wear my night retainers to ensure they don’t go back, but usually only around 3-4 nights a week now. I didn’t wear it for a week and a half recently when I had a really sore ulcer that the retainers were rubbing on, and it felt sooo tight when I put it back on so it just goes to show how quickly your teeth will try to move back if you don’t wear your retainers.