Benefits Of Braces
When it comes to braces, many people think of the aesthetic benefits: a straighter, more symmetrical smile that can boost your confidence and improve your appearance. But there are other reasons why braces may be worth considering, even if you aren’t particularly concerned about how your teeth look. For one thing, braces can help to protect your tooth and jaw alignment. Using gentle pressure to move crooked teeth into the proper position over time helps reduce stress on your bite and prevent various problems like headaches and pain in the neck and shoulders.
Additionally, having correctly aligned teeth can help keep your gums healthy by freeing them from plaque buildup. So, whether you’re working on improving the way your smile looks or protecting against more serious issues like tooth decay, braces can be an excellent investment for any person looking to optimize their dental health. Contact South Shore Orthodontics today for a complimentary consultation and find out if braces are the treatment for you!
How Do Braces Fit Into The Teen Lifestyle?
The good news is that if you are the type of teen who enjoys being active and healthy, wearing braces should not significantly impact your desire to live an active and healthy lifestyle.
Having said that, there are a few things you should keep in mind to avoid unnecessary delays in your treatment:
- If you intend to participate in sports, keep in mind that you must wear a mouthguard at all times in order to protect your braces and teeth.
- Maintaining proper dental hygiene is always important, but having braces makes it much more important. Brushing and flossing must be done more regularly, especially after eating.
- When it comes to dietary restrictions, there are undoubtedly a few food groups that you should avoid. Popcorn, any hard or sticky candies, and any chewy foods, such as soft pretzels or pizza crusts, fall into this category (since the kernels may become stuck between the wire and the brackets).
- Remember that the food limitations are just temporary (until your braces are removed).
If you follow these simple tips, you should be able to live an active and healthy lifestyle, even with braces!
How Do You Care For Your Braces?
Contrary to what you may have heard, maintaining braces is not very challenging. In fact, many of the techniques you employ to take care of your teeth also apply here. Having said that, you should remember a few things to prevent any unnecessary delays in your treatment.
The first thing you should do is brush and floss not just in between the brackets but also in between the wires. By doing so, cavities and the accumulation of plaque can be avoided.
Additionally, you’ll need to get used to the idea that regular trips to the orthodontist will be required during your treatment. They will definitely need to check in on you to ensure that your treatment is going exactly as it should be, and periodic changes to the wire will be necessary to ensure that your smile progresses toward the goal.
In general, teens often have braces on for about two years. Although this timeframe may change based on the severity of the problem and the exact type of problem you seek to resolve.
If you keep these things in mind and follow our orthodontists’ instructions, you’ll do really well keeping your braces clean and maintaining good dental hygiene!
