tooth braces Braces are used to help teeth to move into a better position for teeth that don't fit together properly or for cosmetic reasons. They can also influence jaw growth if fitted early. A brace is most effective between the ages of 13 and 17 because children are growing fast and the teeth move more easily. Your dentist may recommend a brace if your child's teeth are squashed together or too spaced apart. Straightening teeth not only improves their appearance and your child's smile, but may also help prevent decay and gum disease. Habits like thumb-sucking can put pressure on teeth and cause a problem, as can missing teeth which can result in a bad bite developing. Also where teeth are missing the teeth around a space will shift, throwing off the entire bite.  Misaligned  teeth that arn't corrected can really affect a person's profile and appearance. It may also contribute to tooth decay, bone destruction, jaw joint problems, and headaches. Correcting your bite through orthodontic treatment can improve your dental health as well as your smile and personal esteem. There are two main types of brace, removable appliances and  fixed appliances.  Removable appliances are used for small tooth movements. Made of wires embedded in plastic, they can be taken in and out of the mouth by your child. Fixed appliances are chosen for more complex work and are installed and removed only by your dentist. The main problems are usually related to oral hygiene, this is because the braces will inevitably trap more food, plaque and debis around them, making the mouth less clean. This will cause more decay and cavities so there is no point in having straight, rotten teeth that may then need extensive repairative treatment or even extractions after years of bracework. Good cleaning and diet are essential Other potential problems are pain initially as the teeth start to move also some teeth can become non-vital and need root canal tretment later. Treatment with braces can take a considerable amount of time, as teeth move so slowly through bone. However, the best time to do this is usually around 12 -14 years, when all the second teeth are through and yet the bone isn't fully set and hardened. Treatment may still take 2 years with fixed braces and 6-12 months retention with a removable brace. Adults can double the time as the bone is much harder and denser and there is a greater tendency for treatment to reverse once the braces are removed. There are other treatments such as tooth whitening to improve the color or veneers or crowns to improve the shape and color.