You may have read stories about people and their experiences with braces, and if you do not like the idea of bringing your child to the orthodontist every few weeks for a tightening appointment, the sound of a possible “Do-it-yourself” solution can be tempting.

Like many people, your child may dislike their crooked teeth and want to fix them. This means bringing them to the orthodontist and having them spend up to a year or more in treatment. This can seem like a long time to just simply align your teeth, so some people have turned to DIY methods to correct their child’s teeth thinking they will avoid trips to the Orthodontist and cost associated with it.  Even though these are cheaper and quicker solutions than visiting the orthodontist, in most cases, it’s a horrible idea for your child.

DIY braces as a solution to crooked teeth can lead to many other issues with your child’s oral health. Recently, a college student created his own braces for less than $60 and claimed that his teeth were fixed in under four months. According to a report in the Washington Post, quote: “despite Buzzfeed’s initial headline claiming that the DIY braces were safe, orthodontists say otherwise. ” Many doctors are certain that the college student has caused irreparable harm to his teeth which is easily spotted through an X-ray. Looking at his teeth from the outside, everything may look good; however, drastically applying pressure and moving your teeth in under four months can cause issues to the bone and gums. Also, if one of his teeth were misaligned, this can ruin his biting ability leading to unneeded wear on the teeth. Another problem this college student will face is relapse which causes the teeth to revert back to its original position. The issue of DIY Braces has become so widespread, that the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) addressed the problem in a press release informing its viewers of the potential damage and harm these DIY Braces can cause.

In another attempt to fix crooked teeth, one patient took rubber bands to remove a noticeable gap right between his front central incisors. Instead of fixing the gap between the teeth, the band rode up the teeth into the gums and destroyed the roots for both teeth. This patient now has to get a more expensive and time-consuming operation that could have been avoided for heeding the orthodontist’s warning.

Even though getting treatment for your child from a licensed Orthodontist is more expensive than a DIY solution, they are going to get an expert’s supervision, a real doctor who can prevent any extra issues or risks caused by DIY methods. Visit Streamline Children’s Dentistry to improve your child’s smile!