How Braces Can Change Your Face

By: Christine May 13, 2025

When people think of braces, straight teeth are often the first result that comes to mind. But braces do far more than improve your smile—they can actually reshape your entire face. While the idea of braces changing your facial structure may seem surprising, it’s a powerful and often overlooked benefit of orthodontic treatment.

Whether you’re a teen still growing or an adult looking to enhance your appearance and oral health, braces have the potential to create lasting and transformative changes. Let’s take a closer look at how this process works and why it matters.

The Connection Between Teeth, Jaws, and Facial Structure

Your teeth, jawbones, and facial muscles are all interconnected. When teeth are misaligned, it doesn’t just affect your bite—it can impact the way your jaw sits, the shape of your profile, and even how your lips and cheeks rest on your face.

Orthodontic treatment is not just about cosmetics. It’s a functional solution to improve bite alignment, relieve pressure on jaw joints, and balance the appearance of the face. When braces are used to correct orthodontic issues like overbites, underbites, open bites, or severe crowding, they often shift the jaw into a more natural, harmonious position—one that subtly redefines your overall facial shape.

How Braces Impact Facial Appearance

Let’s break down the ways braces can influence different areas of the face:

1. Jawline Definition

Braces can help align the jaw by correcting malocclusions (bite issues). When the upper and lower jaws are out of alignment, the jawline may appear weak, too prominent, or asymmetrical. By guiding the jaw into a better position, braces can enhance definition, giving the lower face a more contoured, balanced appearance.

2. Cheek and Lip Support

Crooked or recessed teeth can reduce the support your teeth provide to your cheeks and lips. When teeth are pushed forward or aligned correctly through orthodontic treatment, the lips may appear fuller and the cheeks more lifted, giving the entire midface a more youthful look.

3. Chin and Profile Balance

Overbites and underbites significantly influence the position of the chin. For example, a severe overbite can make the chin look weak or receding, while an underbite may cause the chin to protrude. Braces can shift the teeth and jaw into a more natural alignment, creating symmetry and improving the side profile.

4. Smile Arc and Lip Line

Braces can also enhance your smile arc—the gentle curve your teeth follow when you smile. A more symmetrical smile arc can improve the proportion of your face, especially when paired with a balanced lip line, where the lips move evenly with the teeth during smiling and talking.

Changes in Facial Appearance: Teens vs. Adults

Braces affect growing and fully developed faces differently:

  • Teens: Because their bones are still developing, orthodontic treatment can guide growth to achieve more dramatic changes in facial symmetry and proportion. In many cases, early intervention with braces or growth-modifying appliances can prevent the need for future surgical correction.

  • Adults: While the facial bones have stopped growing, adults still experience noticeable improvements in facial aesthetics with braces. The repositioning of teeth and jaws refines the contours of the face, smooths out imbalances, and enhances confidence with a revitalized smile.

Functional Benefits that Enhance Aesthetics

While aesthetics are a key motivator for many people considering braces, the structural and functional benefits also play a major role in how your face looks and feels:

  • Improved airway and breathing: In some cases, correcting jaw misalignment opens up airways and reduces symptoms of sleep apnea or chronic mouth breathing. These improvements can also change facial posture over time.

  • Better oral function: A correct bite allows you to chew and speak properly, preventing overuse of certain facial muscles and helping maintain facial tone as you age.

  • Reduced stress on facial joints: By balancing the bite and reducing pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), braces can reduce inflammation or asymmetries caused by jaw strain.

Will Everyone See a Dramatic Facial Change?

Not necessarily. The extent to which your facial structure changes depends on the severity of your orthodontic condition, your age, and the treatment plan. Some patients notice subtle refinements, while others experience a clear transformation—especially those with moderate to severe misalignment or bite issues.

However, even minor adjustments can create a more harmonious appearance and improve self-confidence. These positive changes go beyond the mirror—they affect how you carry yourself, how you interact with others, and how others perceive you.

Why Facial Changes Should Be Viewed as a Positive

Orthodontic treatment is one of the few medical interventions that can enhance both form and function. The goal is not to alter your appearance drastically, but rather to bring out the best in your natural features. Balanced jaws, properly aligned teeth, and an attractive smile all contribute to a healthier, more confident version of yourself.

Ready to Transform Your Smile and Facial Balance?

If you’re considering braces and wondering how they could improve not just your teeth but your overall appearance, the team at Onshore Orthodontics in Yulee, FL is here to help. We offer personalized orthodontic treatment plans for teens and adults designed to enhance aesthetics, improve function, and create confident smiles that last a lifetime.

Schedule a consultation today to discover how braces can reshape more than just your teeth. For those looking for a trusted yulee orthodontist, Onshore Orthodontics provides compassionate, expert care backed by advanced technology and a commitment to beautiful, balanced results.