Wearing braces on your teeth is a step toward improving your appearance and self-esteem for the rest of your life. A straight, appealing smile is the goal, but you must care for your braces and follow your orthodontist’s instructions during treatment to achieve that goal. Follow these tips for a successful braces journey.
Not surprisingly, you must properly and consistently perform oral hygiene tasks. Your teeth are even more susceptible to plaque buildup and bacteria attacks when you’re wearing braces. Food can easily become trapped in the wires and brackets, and it can be difficult to remove debris. Try to carry a soft-bristled toothbrush with you so that you can stop by the bathroom after eating to clean your braces and teeth. Always rinse thoroughly with water to dislodge food, and brush gently from various angles.
Even though it can be tricky, don’t neglect flossing. Thread the floss between your teeth and wires, and gently work the floss between the braces and teeth. Try using a threader available at drugstores to insert the floss more easily. Your orthodontist may also recommend rinsing with mouthwash daily to fight bacteria.
Always stick to the diet that your orthodontist provides. Do not eat the foods that are known to damage braces, such as popcorn or hard candies or sticky caramel. Items on the list are common culprits for breaking your brackets or wires. It’s best to consider every food before you eat it so that you avoid items that may damage your braces. In some cases, you can simply cut the food into smaller pieces and still be able to eat it.
You may also be warned against consuming too many starchy or sugary foods and drinks, which promote decay and gum disease. Also, break potentially harmful habits like chewing ice or knawing on pencils. Another way to protect your braces is to wear a mouth guard when engaging in sports or other physical activities. A customized mouth guard is the best option for protecting your smile.
Following these guidelines will help your teeth remain clean and healthy while undergoing treatment, so that your smile is in tip-top shape when the braces are removed.
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The latest innovation in orthodontics may give your teenager a reason to smile. The Invisalign method has added Invisalign Teen to their group of products, which uses the system of a series of clear plastic aligners to adjust teeth but adds a few features that appeal especially to teens.
Invisalign treats the same problems that traditional braces address, such as teeth crowding, gaps and bite issues. Instead of using the well-known metal wires and brackets, Invisalign uses customized aligner trays. An orthodontist who is trained and certified in the Invisalign method takes pictures and impressions of the teeth. 3D technology simulates tooth movements from the start to end of treatment. This creates the basis for aligners to be developed unique to each patient.
The average treatment duration lasts about one year. During that time, your teen will need to wear the aligners daily for 20-22 hours. The trays are removed for eating and cleaning, which means there are no diet limitations and no difficulties performing oral hygiene tasks. They can also be removed when playing sports or musical instruments, or even for special occasions like prom or school photos.
Every two weeks or so, the aligners need to be exchanged for a new set in the series. Here’s one area where Invisalign Teen comes in handy. There is a Blue Dot Wear Indicator which fades when the aligner needs to be changed. Your teen can easily see when it’s time for a new tray. This also allows the orthodontist to tell if your teen isn’t complying to the wear guidelines. If your teen loses an aligner, six free replacements are included in the process.
Another feature of Invisalign Teen is that the aligners have Eruption Tabs to accommodate the second molars. It doesn’t matter whether or not your teen’s molars have erupted yet, because Invisalign Teen takes that into account.
Invisalign Teen works continuously to straighten your teenager’s teeth and move them into better positions for a beautiful smile. The invisible design removes the stigma of traditional metal braces, and allows teens to maintain their active lifestyles without hindering their eating or hygiene routines. Invisalign Teen provides the ideal way for your teen to keep smiling throughout orthodontic treatment.
Part of the hassle associated with improving your teenager’s smile with braces is getting your teen to buy into the process. Many teens are very resistant to wearing braces because they don’t want a mouth full of metal, food stuck in their braces, or restrictions placed on their diets. Invisalign Teen is here to help!
Invisalign Teen involves wearing a series of aligners over the teeth that gently shift them into better positions. The clear plastic aligners are virtually invisible, which thrills teenagers who don’t want to bring attention to their braces. This also rules out the potential for food becoming stuck in wires or brackets, a common hazard that teens wearing traditional braces fear.
Another plus to Invisalign Teen is the aligners are removeable. They are removed for eating, so there are no restrictions on your teen’s favorite foods. They still have the freedom to eat treats like popcorn or hard candy without concern. Aligners are also removed for cleaning, so normal brushing and flossing win out as opposed to the difficulties cleaning around metal braces.
You won’t have to listen to your teen complain about discomfort with braces when you choose Invisalign. There are no painful adjustments and no pointy wires to poke them in the mouth. You also don’t need to worry that your teen doesn’t know when to change sets of aligners, because Invisalign Teen has a special Blue Dot Indicator that lets you know it’s time to switch. And if your teenager tends to be irresponsible, Invisalign Teen offer six free aligner replacements when one is lost.
The benefits of Invisalign Teen are obvious: invisible, removeable, comfortable, customized and effective. Your teen can’t complain that their social life is negatively impacted by wearing braces when you choose Invisalign as the method. It seems that teenagers face enough hardships and change in their lives; Invisalign Teen offers a stress-free, unique approach to a beautiful smile.
What treatment options are available to adults?
There are more aesthetically-pleasing yet effective choices available today than ever before. We offer state-of-the-art treatment options such as Invisalign, the virtually invisible straightening system, and Clear In-Ovation braces, brackets that use high translucency and rhodium-coated clip technology, making the braces appear less visible. We also specialize in traditional metal braces. Today, this style of bracket is also available in a“tooth colored” material.
What are the benefits of adult orthodontic treatment?
1. A confident smile: There is nothing like wanting to show off your smile. Misaligned teeth cause many adults to feel self conscious about their smile
2. Healthier gums: Food is more likely to get trapped and cause plaque buildup, which is harder to brush and appropriately floss, increasing the chances of gum disease. Further, crowded teeth can cause redness and swelling of the gums.
3. Stronger teeth: First, teeth are constantly put under pressure and crooked teeth can undergo more wear and tear than a straight bite. Second, a misaligned bite can mean uneven force on your jaw causing damage and/or pain. Last, trapped food in misaligned teeth can cause the tooth decay.
4. Overall Improvement of health: A misaligned bite can make it more difficult to fully chew food, causing gastrointestinal problems. In addition, inflammation of the gums has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.
At our practice we know that your time is valuable. Many adults think that they don’t have time in their busy life to undergo treatment. We respect that and will work with you to design a treatment plan that is quick, comfortable, and fits into your schedule.
Have you hesitated to take the first step towards achieving the straight smile that you’ve always dreamt of? The answer is clear. Scheduling a complimentary consultation is the first step towards a beautiful, healthy, attractive smile. Call us at: 818-980-5300 or request an appointment here.
We look forward to meeting you!
Orthodontic treatment is a solution for a variety of dental issues. Your smile may not only look like it could benefit from wearing braces, but your oral health might also benefit as well. Often, a healthy mouth includes teeth that are aligned properly to allow for good cleaning and maintenance. It’s helpful to identify orthodontic problems early so that action may be taken at that time or planned for in the future.
What are some signs that you might benefit from braces? Here are some common indicators to help you recognize when it’s time to make an orthodontist appointment for you or your child.
The most common reason that patients visit the orthodontist is for teeth that are too crowded. It indicates that there is not enough space in the mouth to fit all the teeth. Therefore, the teeth crowd into each other and become crooked. Crowded teeth can be difficult to clean and usually worsen over time. Tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath can all result. Orthodontic treatment straightens the teeth and helps avoid pain and oral health problems.
Another popular reason for orthodontic treatment is a problem with the bite. There are several types of abnormal bites that can usually be treated with braces:
• Overbite – When the front upper teeth overlap the front lower teeth, it’s called an overbite. It can be very noticeable and embarrassing, and increases risks for trauma to the front teeth.
• Underbite – An underbite occurs when the upper front teeth are aligned behind the lower front teeth. It is often an indicator of disproportionate jaw size, causing imbalanced facial appearance, difficulty eating, or accelerated facial aging.
• Cross bite – An abnormal bite in which the upper tooth is behind the lower opposite tooth is called a cross bite. It may lead to excessive tooth wear or fracture, gum recession, or asymmetric jaw growth.
• Open bite – When the bite doesn’t allow the front teeth to touch at all, it results in an open bite. Lisps and trouble biting or eating may result.
If you have any of these bite issues or teeth crowding, schedule a visit with an orthodontist to see if it’s time for treatment.
