Adult athletes may have crooked teeth naturally, or their teeth may become misaligned from a blow to the mouth during a physical game. Regardless of why the teeth are crooked, lingual braces may be a great option for these active adults. Here are a few reasons why:

Easy on the Eyes

Adult athletes are often filmed and photographed, and they like to look their best. Other orthodontic options, such as traditional metal braces, may draw attention away from the rest of the athletes' facial features. However, lingual braces don't usually appear in photos at all.

Lingual braces are hidden from view because of their location in the mouth. Instead of resting on the outer front surface of the teeth, lingual braces are positioned on the rear side of the teeth, adjacent to the athlete's tongue. Thus, there should be no indication of the braces during scheduled photo shoots, videotaping, or even captured action shots.

Safer During Play

Many sports, such as basketball and soccer, involve a large amount of physical contact. Others, such as baseball, still invite the risk of a blow to the mouth from an errant ball. 

For people with traditional braces, a blow to the mouth can result in bleeding, torn lips and damaged brackets. However, with lingual braces, the brackets don't rest immediately beneath the lips or cheeks. 

Still, it may be advised to wear a mouth guard to protect the teeth. Nevertheless, even the donning of a protective guard is more comfortable without the bulk of brackets already extending from the front surface of the teeth.

Effective  

Although lingual braces offer multiple advantages for a person who regularly participates in contact sports, the main purpose of the appliance is to straighten the teeth. Unlike some alternatives to traditional metal braces, such as clear plastic aligners, lingual braces can straighten the teeth just as effectively as metal braces that are applied to the front of the teeth. This means that even the most severe dental misalignments can typically be corrected using lingual braces. 

The braces use the same components as their traditional counterparts: brackets, elastic bands, and an archwire. The brackets are affixed to the teeth, and elastic bands connect the brackets to the archwire. The archwire requires periodic orthodontic adjustments to ensure that appropriate alignment-correcting pressure is continually applied to move the teeth into their proper position.

If you are an athlete who would like to learn more about lingual braces, contact an orthodontist in your local area. Click here for more information on choosing adult braces.