Are you planning to have dental braces, or do you already have one? Are you wondering whether or not braces make your lips bigger?
This article is here to tell you that dental braces do not cause the lips to go bigger. Scientifically speaking, there are no studies that link braces to the enlargement of the lips.
Contrary to common myth, dental braces alone will not make and will never make your lips bigger or plumpier.
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If you are worried that braces will make your lips bigger or thinner during the period you wear them, there's absolutely no need to worry about it because they don't.
Although sometimes, dental braces can give you the impression that your lips have gotten bigger, it is only because the dental braces have taken effect and they change the position of your teeth.
You can feel your lips getting bigger while you still have your braces on or right after you have your braces removed. The most effective way to tell if your braces made your lips bigger is by visually observing your facial structure.
How do braces make your lips bigger?
Many people who have had braces for a fraction of their life may tell you that braces cause the lips to be bigger, but as said earlier, there are no existing studies and scientific research that would support that claim.
What most people may think as their lips get bigger is, in fact just a feeling caused by how dental braces affect the position of your teeth through time.
As we all know, dental braces correct the positioning of the teeth. When there is a change in the teeth' position, it can cause the position of your lips to change as well. This is what gives you the impression that your lips either got bigger or thinner.
When your braces begin to take effect and cause your teeth to move, let's say, for example, backward, you will see your lips moving too, depending on the direction your teeth are currently moving.
Here are just some of the possibilities as to how your braces can affect the way your lips look or feel.
- Dental braces can make your lips appear fuller.
- Dental braces can sometimes stretch your lips, resulting in a plumpier look.
- Dental braces can eventually make your lips appear thicker than before for people with thin lips.
- Sometimes, dental braces can give your lips a color that can make them seem more youthful.
- Dental braces may also cause wrinkles or lines on the lips, but this can be dealt with with regular lip balms.
- When dental braces cause your teeth to fit closer together, it can make your lips look more pucked.
- Dental braces can also give you a lisp with can be quite uncomfortable whenever you try to speak.
- If braces are too tight, dental braces can cause you to lose teeth and develop dental problems such as gum disease.
- Dental braces may make brushing and floss more difficult due to receding gums.
- When worn for longer than the recommended period of time, dental braces may lead to loss of teeth.
Do braces change facial appearance?
Many people who had dental braces for most of their life may tell you that braces can change your facial appearance, and technically speaking, they can. Most of the time, the results of dental braces can also be seen in the way the lower half of your face looks.
As we all know, dental braces help in keeping your teeth and jaw fit together. It gives off a more complimenting aesthetic to your face when it does. This is especially for the case of people who have protruding teeth, which causes their upper lip to thrust out.
For most people, correcting an overbite is one of the primary reasons why they had the dental braces in the first place.
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Do braces ruin the jawline?
Contrary to what some people might say, braces do not ruin the jawline. Braces correct the positioning of the teeth within the mandible or the jawbone (this bone contains all of the bottom set of teeth) and the maxilla where the upper teeth are found.
Since braces only correct the positioning of the teeth, it does not change the shape of the bone. As a matter of fact, it helps enhance the function and the aesthetic of the jawline as it corrects any imperfections in the teeth' positioning.
Why do people think braces make the lips bigger?
There are numerous reasons why people think that braces make their lips bigger. It mostly has something to do with the potential side effects of having braces in the first place.
For starters, braces can make the lips look fuller due to swelling. In some cases, dental braces can also affect the way you smile and change the shape of your teeth. It can also affect how you eat. All of these side effects can sometimes affect the way your lips look.
Things to Remember Before Getting Dental Braces
If you are considering having dental braces in the near future or if you already have one right now, here are key things to remember to prevent unwanted side effects.
- Have a discussion first with a certified orthodontist about the potential side effects of dental braces. Make sure to list down and ask all your questions in mind, so you know what you are exactly getting yourself into by acquiring dental braces.
- Ask your orthodontist the basic do's, and dont's when wearing dental braces. You would want to avoid damaging your teeth by not knowing the basic ways to follow when you have dental braces.
- Make sure to do the necessary health hygienes required to keep your dental braces from causing any infection or irritation.
- Do not continue to wear your dental braces for longer than the advised amount of time, as it can do more damage to your teeth.
Takeaway
Dental braces do not make your lip bigger; however, you may experience some of its side effects that can make you feel like your lips are getting bigger.
Whether getting bigger lips is something you would appreciate or not, the best thing to do is to contact your orthodontist first and have a thorough discussion of what it's actually like to have dental braces to get the best result out of having dental braces.
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