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If you dread having to smile because you are drawing back the curtains on a mouthful of crooked teeth; if you find this hodgepodge of teeth is dragging at your self-esteem and hindering your love life, your career progression, or, whatever, it’s time to do something about it. I am not suggesting counseling for psychological issues; I am talking about actually having your teeth straightened.

Now my immediate thought when I hear talk of straightening teeth is of those unsightly metal railway-track braces that you see kids running around wearing. It doesn’t have to be like that, so read on.

Another consideration before you turf the idea of having your teeth straightened is the medical implications of a higgledy-piggledy set of knackers:

• Increased plaque buildup that leads to tooth decay.
• Increased chance of gum disease and inflammation.
• Crooked teeth and cross bites can make it difficult to chew food. Food that is insufficiently chewed can cause gastrointestinal problems.
• Sometimes misalignment of teeth and jaw structure can create a need for dental pain relief.

Well, whether for medical or cosmetic reasons, here are the options:

Braces

These are the typical wires-brackets-elastics systems that are tightened over time to push the teeth into the correct position. However, nowadays these don’t have to be metal - you can get clear ones. The metal ones are most effective if you have exceptionally crooked teeth and want the change as fast as possible but, generally the clear ones work just as well. (A note on the clear braces: the adhesive that holds them to the teeth can be stained by dark drinks and smoking and they tend to be more costly.)

Then there are “friction-free” options like Damon Braces. These are kinder on your mouth as they don’t have the elastics and some of the metal wiring of normal braces. They are also less visible; you don’t need the regular (painful) tightening and, most importantly, they are faster. (On average, most adults need to wear braces for a period of between 12 and 20 months. If someone does need wear braces that hurt, there are herbal pain relief remedies available.)

Invisalign

This is an option that is making adults smile even before their teeth are perfect. These are transparent aligners - similar to clear gum shields - which, when worn, will adjust tooth alignment over time. These are replaced every two weeks. Besides the fact that they are wonderfully see-through, you can remove them to eat and brush teeth.

Inman Aligner

Here we have a cross between the traditional metal braces and the Invisalign system. It consists of removable aligners, but some (visible) metal is also used. They work faster than Invisalign and you only have one set for the entire treatment time so it is cheaper.

Lingual Braces

These are similar to the metal wire contraptions, but are fitted to the inside of the teeth - so no one will notice (except you, because they can be rather uncomfortable). The plus on these is that they can be used in severe cases of misalignment, unlike the invisible option. The minus is that it can take longer.

6-month Smile

(There’s always a “quick fix” isn’t there?)

These are tooth-colored braces, so you are looking at less conspicuous again. The catch: they only work on the teeth that you see when you smile - so you won’t be aligning all teeth and correcting bite etc. Here’s the big plus if your motives are more on the cosmetic side: they reduce the treatment time by 75%. Also, they are about half the cost of normal braces and Invisalign.

Porcelain Veneers

This is the window-dressing option. Here you simply have perfectly-shaped veneers fixed to the front surface of your teeth to make them look the part. The added bonus is that you can improve the coloring of your teeth at the same time. The downside is that you’ll need to have some of your tooth-structure removed to stick on the veneer (I’m sorry, but the thought of this makes me shiver) and they don’t last forever.

Look, not all of these options are suitable for everybody, so you need to go with your orthodontist’s advice, but at least you know that you are not stuck with having a mouthful of metal for months on end.

Juliet du Preez is a freelance writer in the health and personal development arenas. She has a background in holistic health, natural care and develops self-improvement programs.