Achieving the perfect smile can take time. If you have misaligned teeth, you’ll need to wear an appliance for months or even a couple of years. One of the biggest reservations you may have about teeth straightening treatments is how visible the appliance is. 

Incognito lingual braces are the most discreet method of straightening teeth. Unlike clear braces and aligners, there is absolutely nothing visible when you straighten your teeth with lingual braces. 

The word ‘lingual’ means “by the tongue”, and that’s precisely where your braces would be — on the backs of your teeth, facing your tongue. 

With any treatment, it’s essential to understand what it entails. Here are the answers to the most important questions about Incognito lingual braces. 

How Are Lingual Braces Different From Traditional Braces?

Traditional braces use metal brackets to hold a wire to your teeth. Constant tension along this wire moves your teeth gradually over months. The wire is adjusted throughout the process so we can alter the force it applies to your teeth, giving us control over the tooth movements. 

Lingual braces use the same principle and have brackets and wires just like regular braces. However, the difference is that traditional braces are fixed to the fronts of your teeth, while Incognito lingual braces are attached to the backs. This keeps your braces entirely hidden from view.

Like regular braces, we’ll need to adjust your Incognito braces throughout the treatment process. This helps move your teeth closer to their desired positions. 

How Do Lingual Braces Work?

All teeth straightening treatments use the same principle. And it’s a theory used in dentistry for centuries. In fact, it was initially discussed by the Ancient Greeks. 

Braces create force against the teeth, slowly moving them. We adjust the braces to move your teeth. A brace moves multiple teeth simultaneously. The process may be gradual, but it creates results that look great and last a lifetime. 

What Are the Benefits of Lingual Braces?

A Straighter Smile

The leading motivation for choosing lingual braces is to improve the appearance of your smile. We’ll align your teeth to make your smile more uniform. 

Improved Confidence

Crooked teeth can often leave you feeling self-conscious or insecure about your smile. After straightening your teeth, you’ll get a smile you’ll love —one you’ll feel happy showing off. 

A More Discreet Treatment

No treatment’s more discreet than lingual braces. Your braces are entirely hidden from view, meaning you won’t feel self-conscious about straightening your teeth, and you can see the changes as they happen. 

Better Oral Health

Moving your teeth into better alignment helps improve the health of your smile. Misaligned smiles are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease, and bacteria can easily fill the hard-to-clean gaps in your smile and cause long-term damage. 

A Better Bite

The position of your teeth can affect your ability to chew and speak and cause pain in your jaw, neck, head, and shoulders. Teeth straightening aligns your upper and lower teeth, reducing these issues. 

What Do You Need To Consider Before Choosing Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces have benefits, but you must consider every aspect of your treatment, from daily upkeep to routine appointments and beyond.

Due to the design of your braces, food can become trapped under the wire and build up around the brackets. You should avoid food that could cause damage and pay more attention to cleaning your teeth and braces. 

Your brace will need to be adjusted throughout the treatment, and we do this by tightening the wire. This means you will need to attend the clinic for appointments at regular intervals.

After your treatment, you will need to wear a retainer. These are plastic trays you wear over your tight, usually at night. Wearing a retainer stops your teeth from sliding back into their previous positions. 

What Happens During a Lingual Braces Appointment?

During your adjustment appointments, we’ll remove the elastic bands from around your brackets and take the wire out. 

Next, we’ll examine your teeth and adjust the fit of your brace before reattaching the wire and bands.

After your appointment, you may feel increased tension along the wire. If this causes discomfort, you can take over-the-counter painkillers. Any discomfort should pass within a couple of days as you get used to the increased pressure. 

How Do You Clean Lingual Braces? 

Like any other fixed appliance, lingual braces will trap food particles against your teeth. Because they are behind your teeth, you may not see the trapped debris, and bacteria will form.

Use a soft toothbrush and ensure you thoroughly clean the backs of your teeth. Interdental brushes are useful as they help remove bacteria and debris from between your teeth and around the brace. Alternatively, you can also use a water flosser. 

Rinsing regularly with mouthwash and drinking plenty of water will also help wash away particles and plaque. 

What Are the Alternatives to Lingual Braces?

Although Incognito lingual braces have several advantages, they might not be your choice. At London Smile Clinic, we provide a range of orthodontic options to match your lifestyle needs. 

Along with lingual braces, we also offer tooth-coloured braces. These fix onto the fronts of your teeth and work like lingual braces. Instead of less discreet metal, the brackets are made from a more subtle ceramic material and will blend into your smile. Like lingual braces, these are adjusted regularly to move your teeth further toward the perfect position. 

Invisalign is a removable appliance made from clear plastic. Like braces, Invisalign aligners create a force on your teeth to move them gradually. Instead of having your aligner adjusted, you’ll replace it every two weeks. Every new aligner is tailored to progress your treatment. 

Clear aligners are comfortable, discreet, and convenient and are a popular choice for treating mild to moderate alignment problems. 

Incognito Braces in London

Incognito hidden braces are a completely discreet route to straighter teeth. We can treat a range of orthodontic cases without anyone seeing your brace. 

Book your consultation today and learn whether lingual braces are right for you.