Braces can make teeth straighter and result in a healthier looking smile
But can they prevent tooth decay?
New research says no
Many people think braces early in life can help avoid future tooth decay
Because people think straighter teeth are easier to brush
But a study at the University of Adelaide found no proof of this
The team followed more than 400 teens for 17 years—over 1/3 of whom had received braces
By age 30, there was no difference in the number of decayed teeth between those who had received braces and those who had not
Greater numbers of decayed teeth were strongly linked to brushing less than twice a day
While the study focused on one Australian city, the message does appear clear
To avoid tooth decay, there’s no better advice than brushing twice a day
Doğramacı EJ and Brennan DS. “The influence of orthodontic treatment on dental caries: An Australian cohort study.” Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (2019). DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12446