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In addition, a bad bite can cause wearing of the tooth enamel, which can lead to more expensive dental work and problems including tooth decay, gum disease and difficulty chewing. Jawbones,

soft tissue and teeth tend to move as you age. For some older people, it’s about looking better, and getting orthodontal care help with that. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)

suggests that if your teeth are crowded, protruding, spaced too far apart, meet abnormally or don’t meet at all, correction may be recommended. Braces and aligners are the “appliances”

orthodontists most commonly use today for moving teeth into their proper positions. Adults often have more tooth problems than children, says Featheringham. When an adult is looking to have

teeth moved and aligned, they should seek out an orthodontist, because orthodontists are the best prepared and educated to treat the complicated problems adults can have. “It used to be,”

she adds, “that the only adults who came in for treatment were those who had serious functional problems like the inability to eat or speak well. But now we’re seeing significant numbers of

adults seeking treatment for cosmetic improvement and overall wellness.” When considering whether to have your teeth fixed, says Forsea, beware of false claims, especially on the internet,

about over-the-counter “do-it-yourself” kits. “Never do it yourself — it can be very dangerous,” she warns, “and can cause tooth erosion, misalignment of your bite leading to TMJ or joint

problems, gum infections and, in some cases, even tooth loss.” NO MORE METAL MOUTH During the COVID pandemic, 57-year-old Jill Gainer, director of marketing for the AAO, spent a lot of time

in Zoom meetings. Seeing herself on the computer screen, she became increasingly aware of how her teeth looked, and she wasn’t happy. “My top teeth were pushing on my bottom teeth, making

all my teeth crooked. And when I could no longer stand it, I went to see an orthodontist about having them fixed.” Gainer, like many older adults, thought fixing her teeth might involve

heavy, tight-fitting metal braces. She was surprised to learn there are many options that didn’t exist in her younger years, ranging from those traditional metal braces to ceramic brackets

and clear aligners designed to minimize the appearance of the appliance. “Braces are no longer as ugly as they once were,” says Jahangiri. While traditional braces are still made of metal,

most adult patients opt for newer technologies like 3D computer-generated aligners, which look like thin pieces of clear plastic and are placed over the top and bottom teeth. Featheringham

estimates that about 80 percent of her adult patients decide to use aligners to straighten their teeth. Occasionally, depending on the bite problem, metal braces or pieces may be needed to

achieve the intended result.