Braces are meant to be temporary. They are designed to gently realign your teeth over the course of one to three years before being removed. But what if you chose to keep them on, for life? While the idea might seem like a quirky dental experiment, the results would be anything but pretty. From misalignment to jaw damage, here is what could happen if you never took off your braces, explained over time.Day OneLeaving the orthodontist’s office with your braces still on, everything would feel normal. After all, this was your reality for the past couple of years. The brackets would still be snug against your teeth, and you might even feel proud of your decision to keep them permanently. No problems, yet.Week OneOne week in, you might start to feel occasional discomfort. Braces are designed to move teeth gradually, and without periodic adjustments from your orthodontist, the pressure could start shifting in harmful ways. Your teeth were meant to be brace-free by now, and without a plan in place, misalignment could begin once again.One MonthAfter several weeks, the side effects of wearing permanent braces would become more noticeable. Without regular adjustments, the braces would pull your teeth unevenly, undoing years of careful correction. Your once perfect smile would start to distort. Misaligned pressure could also begin causing pain in your jaw and gums.One YearTwelve months later, your oral health would be in serious decline. Braces make it more difficult to clean teeth properly, so plaque would build up in hard-to-reach spots. This could lead to cavities, gum disease, and even root damage.In some cases, the roots of your teeth might begin to dissolve due to prolonged, uneven force, causing your teeth to loosen or fall out entirely. On top of that, the metal in your braces could start to corrode, leaching harmful materials into your mouth.Ten YearsAfter a full decade, your dental situation would be nothing short of disastrous. Constant, unmanaged pressure from the braces would damage your jaw and bones. Gum disease would likely become chronic.You might suffer from jawbone deterioration and recurring infections. You would probably have lost multiple teeth by this point, with the remaining ones held together by rusting braces.Fifty YearsHalf a century later, the braces would be the only thing keeping what little remains of your teeth from falling apart. Your jaw may have permanently changed shape from years of unnatural pressure. Speaking and eating would be difficult, if not painful.Oral surgery might be your only option, but the damage would be extensive and irreversible.