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Braces can create significant positive changes in your life. They can improve overlapping or crooked teeth, reduce cavities because they reduce the chances of food becoming trapped in between crooked teeth, and they can also elevate your self-confidence by enhancing your smile. However, you need to take proper care of them during your orthodontic treatment so as to have good results after treatment.
There are three main types of orthodontic braces. These are:
- Metal Braces— Today, the most common types of braces are new and improved metal braces. They are made of high-quality stainless steel, and they correct teeth alignment using their metal archwires and brackets. Many young people use colorfully decorated elastic bands to enhance their smiles.
- Ceramic Braces— Clear ceramic braces are less noticeable than metal braces. These types of braces are highly favored by patients in their late teens and young adults. Since ceramic orthodontic appliances are less flexible and larger in size than metallic ones, they need greater attention to maintain proper dental hygiene.
- Invisible Braces— Invisible (clear) braces such as Invisalign, straighten the teeth by means of easy-to-wear, invisible, and removable aligners. Since they are removable, you won’t have to worry about anything you eat. You can enjoy your meals and snacks without fear of clogging or damaging your braces with different kinds of sticky or hard foods. When you remove your braces, you can easily brush and floss your teeth as usual. These types of braces don’t cause scrapes, irritations or cuts because they don’t contain metallic parts.
When you go for orthodontic treatment in Southington, it is recommended that you pay attention to several tips during your course of treatment to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy.
How to Care for Your Braces during Orthodontic Treatment
The following tips will help you to take proper care of your braces during orthodontic treatment.
- Floss and brush your teeth regularly.
When you are wearing braces, floss your teeth often and carefully to protect both the teeth and the braces. Use dental floss with gentle motions near the archwires of the braces, and floss between the teeth with natural sawing movements. First, use a brush with soft bristles from the top to bottom of each tooth and then do the same from bottom to top. Afterward, ensure that you brush using a Proxabrush (small triangle-shaped brush). It is designed specifically for cleaning between parts of the braces.
Brush upward then downward in the space between the brace wires, bands, and brackets. If you find it difficult to maintain oral hygiene while wearing the braces, use an air-flossing device or a Waterpik to dislodge stubborn food particles between the teeth and the braces. Also, use fluoride toothpaste or rinse the mouth using a fluoride-based mouthwash.
- Be mindful of what you eat.
While wearing braces, avoid gummy foods, any candies or foods that pull or that are sticky. For example, avoid chewing gum, sticky candies, caramels and anything that might damage your braces. You should also avoid popcorns because the shells can easily get wedged between the teeth. These foods can pull the wires and brackets causing you to go back to your orthodontist so that they can be fixed.
Do Orthodontic Braces Cause White Spots on Teeth?
- Clean your braces on-the-go.
Unless you only eat while at home, you may need a way to clean your teeth while in the midst of your activities. You may carry a toothbrush, but you may also find it necessary to bring a small, portable brush to use for cleaning the braces quickly or remove stubborn pieces of food. This is the main reason people who wear braces carry a Proxabrush. They come with a cap to help keep the bristles clean. Proxabrushes are often found at the orthodontist’s office. But they can also be purchased at a pharmacy or dental supplies store.
- Don’t miss an orthodontic appointment.
Your orthodontist is the one that fits your braces and helps straighten your teeth. Missing your orthodontic appointment consistently means a longer period for you to keep wearing your braces. Doing this can delay your desire to have a gorgeous and perfect smile. Therefore, don’t ignore appointments with your orthodontist. And if you have to reschedule the appointment for any reason, reschedule it for an upcoming day and don’t push it for another month or more from the original appointed day.
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Wear the elastic bands continually.
Unless your orthodontist advises you otherwise, wear the elastic bands always, except when you are brushing. The bands exert a gentle but persistent pressure that assists in realigning your teeth as required. By doing so, you will reduce the time required for wearing the braces to correct badly aligned teeth considerably. Even if they cause you some discomfort, try to keep wearing them so that your teeth can be straightened.
However, if you notice a grating or popping sensation, or feel pain in your jaw joints, remove the elastic bands then consult your orthodontist. Especially when you notice difficulty in closing or opening your mouth, consult your orthodontist immediately. However, don’t be alarmed by such problems. Often, they can be resolved by adjustments to the braces. In addition, any discomfort you experience during the first few days of wearing these dental appliances will most probably disappear altogether. You need to change your elastic bands at least every 12 hours, so you need to keep a good supply handy.
Braces require utmost care,but they can greatly enhance many aspects of your life which include boosting your self-confidence if they are well cared for. Therefore, you need to protect your braces while engaged in sports. Thus, wear a mouth guard to protect your mouth and reduce the possibility of damaging the braces and injuring your mouth. Again, don’t smoke while wearing braces. Smoking while wearing braces can cause an uneven discoloration to your teeth, and when the braces are removed, the discoloration will be more evident. This may cause you to schedule teeth bleaching treatments for your darkened teeth. So when you go for a Southington orthodontic treatment, you need to remember the above tips for caring for your braces.
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
