Braces are a big first step on your orthodontic journey. And before you begin your process toward your ideal smile, it’s important to have the right information. There are a lot of myths surrounding braces and the orthodontic treatment process. Wilson Orthodontics and our expert team are here to clear things up so you can start your treatment on a strong, confident note. Let’s take a look at the most common myths about braces.
When we think of braces, the image that comes to mind is often a pimply teenager. This is often because young people’s teeth are not fully developed, which can make it easier for braces to move their teeth in the right direction for better smiles when they get older. But you’re never too old to build a more ideal smile! Your teeth are capable of being adjusted with braces at any point, but some issues may be easier to treat when you are younger. With metal and clear braces and Invisalign options, orthodontic treatment is possible and beneficial for everyone of all ages. Whether you require a full or limited orthodontic treatment, our team will ensure that you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
While the initial application of your braces may cause some discomfort and tight feelings, this quickly goes away as your teeth learn to adjust to the metal appliances. There may also be some irritation and soreness during your routine adjustment appointments. Overall though, your braces should not cause any actual lasting pain and the discomfort you may or may not experience does not affect the efficiency of your braces.
While braces do straighten your teeth, which can create a smile that helps you feel more confident, there are other more functional benefits to braces. Imperfect teeth can affect your speech, chewing, digestion, sleep, and even your breathing. Tooth crowding can make it difficult to properly floss and clear plaque and debris. A misaligned bite can lead to poor oral health overall. Luckily for most patients, jaw misalignment or malocclusion can be easily remedied with braces.
Adjusting your teeth does take time, especially if you need more in-depth jaw adjustments. Braces make small changes that allow your mouth to adjust and move your teeth, and doing this too quickly would be very painful and could cause damage to your jaw and teeth. Most orthodontic patients tend to spend anywhere from twelve to twenty-four months in treatment and adjustments, and it can vary depending on your oral health and your goals.
Getting braces does not mean giving up what you love to do! While you should always protect your teeth and mouth when playing sports or instruments, especially when you have braces, you don’t have to give your favorite activities to protect your smile. One way you can protect your teeth while playing sports is to wear a protective mouthguard just to be safe from the impact that could damage your braces. And as for musical instruments, the added devices in your mouth may require a bit of adjustment while playing, but it shouldn’t keep you from enjoying making music.
Your orthodontic work will likely continue even after you get your braces removed. Once your braces are off, you will move on to the next portion of your orthodontic treatment. Your mouth becomes vulnerable as your teeth attempt to shift back into the place they were before braces. Your jaw needs time to grow and support the adjustments that are made. And so, you will need to wear a retainer that keeps pressure on the teeth to keep them from moving. This will be a removable device, but you will need to wear it regularly as instructed to ensure that the adjustments made while wearing braces are not compromised.
Not everyone wants metal brackets and wires. Advancements in orthodontic technology have provided more options for people seeking to straighten their teeth. While bracket-and-wire braces are the commonly used option, there is also a clear, ceramic option. At our orthodontic offices, we also offer a clear aligner option called Invisalign to be used in place or in combination with your standard braces treatment plan.
To get the best result from your orthodontic experience, it’s good to avoid certain food that may damage your braces, or can make cleaning your braces tricky. Foods that are crunchy like raw apples and carrots, nuts, and popcorn, and sticky foods like candies with caramel and taffy can cause your appliances to break and even cause damage to your teeth, tongue, and gums. But most other foods will not pose a problem in eating or proper oral care.
Follow-up visits are a part of the orthodontic process, and our team wants to collaborate with you to help you get where you want. Adjustments will be expected and there may be reasons for the wire to be exchanged at certain points in your treatment plan. But they will not be as frequent as you may expect! Most of the visits will consist of our orthodontists making minor adjustments and visually inspecting the movement to be sure you are progressing as you should be.
Braces are the most common and effective ways to correct your teeth. But it’s not the option available to you! Advancements in orthodontic technology have created more ways for you to achieve your smile goals. In addition to traditional braces, we also offer clear braces and Invisalign clear aligners to our patients.
If you’re considering braces, you want the best team to provide you with the care you need. Wilson Orthodontics and our expert team want to guide you through your orthodontic treatment process, one step at a time.
If you or someone you love is considering braces, we want to provide the proper information and treatment to help you along. Our experienced team at Wilson Orthodontics knows that an informed patient is more likely to participate in their treatment. If you have any more questions or wonder if you may be a good fit for Invisalign treatment, get in touch today to schedule your FREE consultation with our experts to start your smile journey.