Your smile is often the first thing people notice, which is why straight teeth are so important to many people. However, if you have crooked teeth or a gap, braces can be expensive and once you get past a certain age you might not want to wear braces. Luckily, adults can still straighten their smile using a discreet clear aligner product.

Here’s how clear braces can replace the need for traditional metal braces to safely straighten teeth:

1. Invisible

Clear aligners are just that, they are clear. Clear aligners offer a virtually invisible way to straighten teeth. No one will ever know that you have them in your mouth unless you tell them. These clear braces are made from BPA-free plastic that’s completely clear. The aligners easily pop right in and out of the mouth in a moment’s notice, for eating or cleaning. They offer an attractive and discreet option compared to metal braces that stay put and often cause food to get stuck between your teeth.

2. No pain

Another wonderful reason to consider using clear aligners for straight teeth is that it’s completely pain free. For instance, clear aligner wearers don’t have to worry about an orthodontist digging around your mouth and metal braces poking into your gums all the time. After you are fitted for your custom clear aligners, you simply pop them in and then start wearing them. No need to worry about gum bleeding or soreness from adjustments and metal brace wear.

3. Comfortable and clean

Because of the design, you can be sure that they are both comfortable and clean. Traditional braces catch a lot of food in the wiring and can be uncomfortable in your mouth. The metal wiring can stab into the gums and it often collects particles of food that are hard and embarrassing to remove. Aligners slide comfortably over teeth, and can be removed before eating so they don’t trap food. They can also be removed for regular cleaning so your mouth stays cleaner.

4. Quick permanent results

Traditional metal braces take up to 2-years to produce the desired results, but clear aligners work much faster than that. The moment you pop them in, they begin working to gradually align your teeth and correct your smile. The best part is that while they are straightening your teeth, nobody around you will ever notice you’re wearing them. Users report, depending on the issue, that clear aligners can work as fast as 6- to 12-months.

5. Fewer dental visits

Traditional metal braces require a ton of adjustments to take care of them while aligning your teeth. You can expect multiple visits to the dentist for extra rubber bands to be placed, and for needed adjustments to be made. Clear aligners are worn for up to 22 hours a day, and users change to a new custom set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks (or as directed).

6. Fixes a variety of oral issues

Clear aligners fix a wide variety of oral issues. If you have gaps, crooked teeth or an over or underbite, aligners can help straighten your teeth. However, if you suffer with short, round or pegged teeth or if your teeth are rotated causing overcrowding, you will not be a candidate for clear aligners.