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If you’ve been unhappy with how your teeth look or have had trouble with your bite, getting some orthodontic work could help remedy that situation. And you wouldn’t be alone; according to the American Association of Orthodontists, one-third of adult Americans are not happy with how their smile looks.

As an adult, however, braces don’t sound appealing at all. Braces are seen as an early life thing, and many adults would rather keep their misaligned teeth than subject themselves to possible ostracization. But wire braces are no longer the only option. Now you have methods such as Invisalign, where you use transparent trays to straighten your teeth gradually. Whether you’ve never had braces before or you had them and now see your teeth getting a bit crooked again, Invisalign is a very helpful method of straightening that smile.

Subtle Appearance

It’s called Invisalign for a reason: It’s not easy to see. The trays used are transparent, and while they are visible when you look at someone’s mouth up close, they’re not visible from a distance. That can be a relief to someone who feared having everyone see braces on their teeth.

Food Doesn’t Get Caught In It

You take Invisalign trays out only for specific reasons, namely to eat and to brush your teeth. That means that food won’t get caught in the Invisalign trays like it would with braces. That helps keep your breath fresher, too, as you won’t have this food lodged in the brackets or stuck under the wire. You just have to be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly and clean the Invisalign trays daily.

Easily Removable If Necessary

While you’re not supposed to remove the Invisalign trays for anything but eating, oral care, and appointments at your dentist’s office, you can take the trays out if absolutely necessary. For example, if you’re about to take an ID picture, maybe you want to remove the tray for a minute while in front of the camera. Or, if the tray is too uncomfortable and is causing pain, you can remove it if that’s absolutely the only way to stop the pain. With braces, if a wire were cutting your cheek, for example, you wouldn’t be able to do much until you got back to the orthodontist’s office.

Invisalign is a great way to straighten teeth while avoiding the disadvantages of traditional braces. Your local orthodontist can give you more details on products and plans to fit your needs.