A recent survey backed by the makers of Invisalign Teen aligners reveals teenagers worry about their appearance – even more so with the rise of social media – and that concern about how their teeth look is a major cause of teen angst.

At Grace & Bowman Orthodontics in Fort Walton Beach and Niceville, our team of talented professionals can work with parents and their children to correct dental problems that can lead to low self-esteem and other problems during the already difficult pre-teen and teenage years.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Grace & Bowman today.

The recent survey found that a whopping 92 percent of teenagers use social media. Sites driven by photos, videos and the ever-present “selfies” are the most popular with teens. Still, about 54 percent said their lives would be better without the presence of social media and the negative and critical responses it can bring from others.

Some 40 percent of teens who use social media believe their appearances are judged more intently on social media networks than in real life. About 40 percent said that it is more difficult to convey the image of themselves they want others to see on social media. Despite these misgivings, nearly 90 percent of teens post selfies on a regular basis – with 56 percent admitting they are worried about how they look most days.

The survey reported most self-conscious teens want to bolster their chances of fitting in with others and increase their self-confidence by making changes to their appearance.

Some other findings include:

• More than 95 percent of American teenagers who are not happy with their smiles are also insecure about their overall appearance.
• About 30 percent of teens said they are most self-conscious about how their teeth look.
• Nearly half of teens who post selfies consider if their smiles look good before they upload photos of themselves.

As they have for decades, braces cause teens’ angst to rise. While the study indicates teens want to improve their smiles, they worry about wearing braces.

More than 90 percent of U.S. teenagers who have never worn metal braces said wearing them would prevent them from fitting in with others. About 25 percent believed they would be teased about their braces.  More than 40 percent believe most teens are embarrassed to wear metal braces.

The good news for teens is that clear braces, which are less noticeable but effective in straightening teeth, are available at Grace & Bowman Orthodontics.

The survey found that:

• Only 8 percent said wearing Invisalign Teen clear aligners would be embarrassing. More than 40 percent said metal braces would be embarrassing.
• Nearly half of Invisalign Teen users said their self-esteem rose during treatment, compared to 22 percent of teens with metal braces.

The survey polled 3,577 American teens ages 13 to 17 and 2,118 moms with kids ages 13 to 17.

Being a teenager is tough. Being a teenager with braces can be even more difficult.

To learn more about clear Invisalign products and whether they are right for your teen, contact Grace & Bowman today.