Can You Straighten Teeth Naturally At Home? (2024)

• Posted on 7/08/2021
• Written By NWPH Staff

Pursuing that pearly-white perfectly straight smile can cost thousands of dollars, months of time, and a great deal of discomfort.

It’s no wonder that many people are looking for cheaper home remedies for straightening teeth naturally. However, in the long run, you may face even more pain, both in your mouth and wallet, trying an unproven at-home orthodontic treatment.

Can You Straighten Teeth Naturally

The simple answer is, no, there are no methods of repositioning your teeth ‘naturally.’ The only method to straighten crooked teeth is by using one of a few different appliances under the direction of an orthodontist [1].

Moreover, trying to apply DIY treatments at home without professional guidance is a very bad idea [2]. The American Dental Association and Association of Orthodontists assert that the practice can potentially worsen problems, rather than fix them.

While straightening teeth may seem like a purely cosmetic change, it’s not. Change in tooth position could adversely affect your jaw if conducted improperly.

Do-It-Yourself Dentistry

Rising costs and COVID concerns have prompted people to look for in-home healthcare options whenever possible. It’s understandable, but it’s also risky.

One example discussed on social media is to put small elastic bands around two teeth to close a gap [3]. However, the band can frequently slide up into the gum line, irritating it, causing infection, and eventually causing the teeth to fall out.

How To Straighten Teeth

The safest path to straight teeth involves a treatment plan put together by an orthodontist, including one or more of the following:

• Retainers
• Braces
• Other appliances, such as a palatal expander
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Surgery

Retainers

A retainer may be used on its own to straighten your teeth. More often, they are used after another appliance like braces to keep your teeth in place.

Most people are familiar with removable retainers, made of plastic and wire. Fixed retainers are wires attached to the back side of the front teeth [4].

Braces

Braces are attached to the teeth and use wires to move the teeth into position. Elastic bands are sometimes also used to place additional pressure on the teeth to be moved [5]. They are the most common appliance for adjusting crooked or crowded teeth.

Traditional braces use different types of metal wire, however, less obvious ceramic or clear braces are growing in popularity. The ideal age to wear braces is between 10 and 14.

Other Appliances

While they are the most common treatment option, even traditional metal braces sometimes aren’t enough, so other treatments might be used as well. These are generally used for crossbite correction, underbite, or other severe issues.

These devices can include:

• Herbst Appliance
• Frankel Function Regulator
• Bimler Appliance
• Palatal expander
• Other fixed or functional appliances [6][7]

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry includes things like bleaching, crowns, and veneers [8]. Veneers may be used to change the shape of a tooth or repair cracked teeth, as well as close gaps or reshape a tooth so it’s straight.

Dental veneers can be either plastic or porcelain, with porcelain veneers being more expensive and complicated.

Surgery

Not all dental problems can be solved through tooth movement. Sometimes existing teeth need to be removed to provide more space, or to reposition the jaw as a whole. Surgery is usually reserved for extreme cases.

Clear Aligners: Best Teeth Straightening for Adults

While traditional braces have been available for decades, it’s now possible to choose from other treatment options. Clear aligners are less expensive, they can still correct spacing issues, crooked teeth, and achieve most people’s desired results.

Some options are managed entirely at home, while others require an orthodontist appointment. For the most part, these are used for less serious, cosmetic adjustments.

Byte

Services like Byte will send clear aligner trays directly to your home. Every aspect of fitting, adjusting, and receiving your aligners is handled online. Changes can be completed in as little as 2 months.

Byte’s price tag is around $2000 to $2400, which may seem like a lot until you compare it to traditional metal braces. Check out our Byte aligners review for more on price and features.

AlignerCo

AlignerCo is similar in many ways to Byte. You make an impression at home and aligner trays are sent to you. AlignerCo costs about $1000 to $1200, which is much less than other options. You may need to wait 8 months or more to see results, however. Check out our AlignerCo review for more information

Invisalign

Invisalign produces clear aligners like Byte or AlignerCo, however, you’ll only be able to get them through your orthodontist. This might make them safer, but they are also much more expensive, potentially costing twice or even three times as much as at-home options.

The steep price may put them outside of many people’s budget range, luckily, there are many Invisalign alternatives that are more affordable.

FAQ

If you’re looking for quick, straightforward answers to common questions, we’ve got you covered.

Conclusion

There are simply some health issues that can’t be addressed with natural methods. While straightening teeth may seem like a small change, the alignment of your teeth and jaw are very precise. A beautiful smile is great, but it’s not worth sacrificing your health.

Try proven clear aligners to get a prettier smile, safer, and without breaking your bank.