It's tough being a teenager. With raging hormones, college on the horizon, and plenty of reasons to feel critical about one's own looks, it's a difficult time for most people. If you're hoping to get your teen's teeth straightened, you probably know that traditional metal braces might leave your teen cringing due to how their smile will look while wearing them. The good news is, you can get your teen's teeth straightened without putting them through that. Here are three teenager orthodontics options for you and your teen.

Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are removable, retainer-like braces that can be put on and taken off whenever it's needed. As the name implies, invisible braces are barely noticeable unless you're actually looking for them. Since the braces are made out of a thin layer of plastic that wraps around the entire row of teeth, most people will never notice they're there. Even if your teen is self-conscious about them, they'll be able to pop them off whenever they want to take a photo or to eat something, so they're a great choice for most teenagers.

Clear Braces

Clear braces have the efficacy of standard metal braces without the unwanted appearance. They're designed to work the exact same way as standard braces, but the brackets are made out of a clear plastic and the wires are also transparent. While they're slightly more noticeable than invisible braces, they generally disappear in photographs and are easy to overlook. This is a great option if your child needs significant dental corrections that invisible braces aren't capable of.

Sublingual Braces

Lastly, sublingual braces work very similarly to traditional metal braces and are also made out of metal. The neat thing about these braces is that they're adhered to the back of the teeth instead of the front.

Sublingual braces are completely hidden when the wearers smile. Since the brackets and wires are all on the back of the teeth, no one will ever know that they're there except for the wearer. Like clear braces, these are a great choice if your teen needs significant correction to their smile, since they're just as effective as traditional braces.

Teens don't have to feel embarrassed by their smiles while working towards a straighter set of teeth. With these three options, you and your teen can pick something that leaves your teen feeling good about themselves while simultaneously improving the appearance of their teeth.