If you’re an adult deciding whether braces are still worth it, age itself isn’t the obstacle: healthy teeth can be moved at any age. The real question is whether what treatment can fix for you is worth what it asks of you, which is often a year or more in braces, extra cleaning, a retainer afterward, and a few risks worth knowing about. Here’s what the research says about each side.
Table of Contents
The Pros and Cons of Braces for Adults
Braces can straighten teeth and correct bite problems at any age, but for adults the trade-off is time, effort, and a few specific risks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Straighten crowded, gapped, or rotated teeth | Most people spend one to three years in treatment, with regular visits |
| Can correct a bite that affects chewing, speech, or tooth wear | Soreness for a few days after braces go on and after adjustments |
| Straight teeth are easier to clean once treatment ends | Harder to clean while braces are on, with a higher risk of white spots and decay |
| Healthy teeth can be treated at any age | Some shortening of the tooth roots, and gum problems if the gums aren’t healthy first |
| Less noticeable options exist, such as tooth-colored braces and clear aligners, if they suit your case | Metal braces show, and hard or sticky foods are off the menu |
| A change in how your smile looks, the main reason adults choose braces | A retainer long-term, or teeth can drift back |
Which side weighs more depends on your teeth.
Is There an Age Limit for Braces?
No. Cleveland Clinic says you’re never too old for orthodontics, and the American Dental Association (ADA) says healthy teeth can be treated at any age. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), about one in three orthodontic patients today is an adult.
What matters more than age is the health of your teeth and gums, because problems such as decay or gum disease have to be treated first.
What Braces Can Do for Adults
Braces can correct crowded, gapped, and rotated teeth, and bite problems that make biting, chewing, or speaking harder.
Among the problems adults commonly have treated, the AAO lists crowding, which makes teeth harder to clean; an overbite or deep bite, which can wear teeth unevenly; and underbites and open bites, which can affect chewing and speech. Once teeth are properly aligned, they’re much easier to clean. MedlinePlus adds that correcting a moderate or severe bite problem can lower the risk of decay and gum disease and ease strain on the teeth, jaws, and muscles.
What the research doesn’t show
Braces aren’t a proven way to prevent gum disease. A systematic review of controlled studies found no reliable evidence that orthodontic treatment improves gum health, and weak evidence of small harmful effects on the gums and bone around the teeth. Worse bites are linked with worse gum disease, but that doesn’t show the bite causes it, and the reviewers concluded that preventing future gum problems isn’t a reason for braces, except for a few unusual bites.
MedlinePlus also notes that most alignment problems are minor and don’t need treatment. So the question is whether you have a specific problem braces can fix: teeth you can’t clean properly, a bite that wears your teeth or makes chewing harder, or an appearance you want to change.
What Braces Ask of You
The day-to-day trade-offs are time, some soreness, visible hardware, and more work keeping your teeth clean.
How long it takes
Most people are in treatment for one to three years, the ADA says. For adults with mildly crooked teeth, the AAO puts it at around eight to twelve months, while complex cases can take a few years, with visits usually every six to eight weeks.
Adult treatment may take a little longer than a younger patient’s. Still, a 2020 review found no clear difference in overall treatment time with fixed braces between adults and teenagers, though the evidence was weak.
Soreness
Soreness is common. It typically starts about 12 hours after braces are fitted or adjusted, peaks after about a day, and eases over three to seven days. Brackets and wires can also irritate your lips, cheeks, or tongue.
How they look
Metal braces show when you smile. Tooth-colored ceramic braces are less noticeable but still visible, and they’re more fragile, so they break more easily.
Cleaning and food
Many people find their teeth harder to keep clean with braces, especially between the back teeth. Plaque and tartar can build up around brackets and wires and lead to cavities and inflamed gums, so ask your dental team how to clean around them. You’ll also be told which foods to avoid, usually hard, sticky, and crunchy ones such as nuts, popcorn, and chewing gum.
The Risks the Research Describes
The main risks are white spots and decay around the brackets, some shortening of the tooth roots, and gum problems.
White spots and decay
Plaque that builds up on braces and isn’t removed may permanently mark the teeth or cause decay. A 2025 review of 57 studies found white spots on the enamel are common during orthodontic treatment, more so with fixed braces than with other appliances, and more with longer treatment. Most patients in those studies were teenagers.
Root shortening
Moving teeth can shorten their roots, a process called root resorption. A systematic review found that comprehensive treatment makes it more frequent and more severe, and that heavy forces may be particularly harmful. Another concluded that some root shortening seems unavoidable, and several studies, though not all, link older age with more of it. X-rays check the roots before and during treatment, because moving teeth with unhealthy roots can loosen them.
Gum problems
Straightening teeth when the gums aren’t healthy can lead to gum recession, root shortening, or tooth loss, the AAO warns.
What’s Different About Moving Adult Teeth
Adult bone has finished growing, so teeth tend to move more slowly, and adults often have fillings, crowns, missing teeth, or gum problems that shape the plan.
Compared with teenagers, adults also tend to lose more of the bone around the teeth during treatment. Some adult jaw problems may need surgery or other dental work alongside braces. Some medicines and habits, such as smoking or clenching and grinding, can also affect the result.
What has to be in place first
Before teeth are moved:
- Any decay is treated.
- Gum disease is under control and you can keep up good daily cleaning.
- Unstable fillings or crowns are dealt with, and missing or worn teeth are accounted for in the plan.
- X-rays check that the roots are healthy.
At Icon Dental Center, gum disease treatment is done by our periodontist, Dr. Betsy Mosquera.
Everett, WA
Wondering whether braces are worth it for you?
Dr. Sohrabi, our orthodontist, can look at your teeth and bite and talk through what treatment could and couldn’t do.
Braces, Aligners, and the Other Options
Metal braces, tooth-colored ceramic braces, lingual braces behind the teeth, and clear aligners all move teeth, but not every appliance suits every problem.
Traditional braces are brackets bonded to the teeth and joined by a wire that’s adjusted over time; the brackets can be metal or tooth-colored. Lingual braces sit on the back surfaces of the teeth, which makes them virtually invisible.
Clear aligners replace brackets and wires with a series of custom, removable trays, each worn for a week or two. They’re popular with adults, but they have to be worn at least 22 hours a day, and they aren’t recommended when the bite problem is too severe. Icon Dental Center is an Invisalign provider.
Whatever the type, treatment needs in-person care: X-rays and a gum check can’t be replaced by photos or scans.
Retainers After Braces
Everyone who has braces needs a retainer afterward, because teeth can shift back, and for most people that means wearing one long-term.
Teeth naturally move throughout life. A retainer holds them in place and gives the bone and gums around them time to settle, though some small change after treatment is normal. Retainers are removable or fixed (a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth), and fixed ones can be harder to clean.
A common schedule is full-time for at least four to six months, then at night for life. A Cochrane review of 47 studies couldn’t say which type of retainer works better. Your orthodontist sets the type and schedule.
Questions about braces as an adult? Call our Everett dental office to talk it through.
Braces for Adults at Icon Dental Center
At Icon Dental Center, all orthodontic treatment is planned and done by our orthodontist, Dr. Keyvan Sohrabi, who is board certified. Because gum health, existing dental work, and the roots all shape what’s possible, an exam answers whether braces are worth it for you. Our page on orthodontics for adults covers the options, cost, and insurance.
Common Questions About Braces for Adults
Who should do orthodontic treatment, a dentist or an orthodontist?
Braces may be provided by a general dentist or an orthodontist, depending on the dentist’s orthodontic experience and how complex the case is. An orthodontist completes two to three years of extra training after dental school. At Icon Dental Center, Dr. Sohrabi, our orthodontist, does all orthodontic treatment.
Can I straighten just my front teeth?
Moving only the front teeth still changes how your teeth work together, and the AAO notes it can significantly affect how your mouth functions and its health. That’s why even a small correction should start with a full exam and X-rays.
Why do adults get braces?
Appearance is still the main reason adults choose braces, the AAO says, though more adults now cite health reasons. Many are correcting long-standing problems, or ones that developed as they got older.