Many people are not blessed with naturally beautiful smiles. That’s why more than a half-million Americans are wearing braces today. However, help from the use of orthodontics can improve your facial structure and give you a better smile.
You should note that your road to getting dental braces can be delayed if you don’t follow dental treatment guidelines. Here are some of the common brace mistakes and how to avoid them.
Disregarding Oral Hygiene
Getting dental braces calls for a higher level of hygiene throughout your treatment period. Failing to brush or floss may result in tooth discoloration, gum disease, decay, and tartar build-up. You may need to change your brushing technique and follow the advice given by your orthodontist. You also need to floss and thread at once a day. In case you’re in a situation where you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, use a fluoride mouthwash.
Skipping Orthodontic Appointments
You need to make regular visits to your orthodontist throughout the treatment period. The orthodontist or Invisalign dentist analyzes your progress and repairs or replaces broken parts. Missing your appointments runs the risk of deviating from the treatment process, which lengthens the time you have the braces on.
Restricting Yourself to Metal Braces
Traditional metal wires and brackets are effective but require a certain level of care. Therefore, you need to be more vigilant with your oral health during treatment. However, the advancement of technology in the orthodontic field has led to developing other alternatives such as Invisalign.
Invisalign aligners are comfortable and efficient as metal braces but easy to maintain. Therefore, it’s a good option for those who can’t cope with the maintenance of metal braces.
Eating Restricted Foods
After getting your treatment, your orthodontist will give you a list of foods you need to avoid. Hard and sticky meals need more biting force while chewing and can get stuck in your brackets. Hard and crunchy foods can also bend the wires in your braces. So, you must follow the food guidelines provided by your orthodontist.
You can also settle on Invisalign aligners. These allow you to remove them when you’re eating and put them back when you are done.
Ordering Braces From a General Dentist
Getting braces for a family dentist may seem convenient, but it’s not the best option.
If you want to get braces, it’s recommended that you use an orthodontist at affordable rates. All orthodontists are trained dentists and can fit metal braces and aligners for straight teeth
Failure To Take Good Care of Your Braces
Your orthodontist should tell you how to take care of your teeth once you’ve been fitted with braces. It’s important to understand the correct way to care for your braces.
The best way to manage your dental treatment is to follow the advice given by your orthodontist during your subsequent appointments.
Going for the Cheapest Treatment
Choosing the cheapest treatment is not bad, but do not choose treatment because it’s the least expensive. For instance, if you need extensive orthodontic treatment, going for an orthodontist with outdated tools to spare a few dollars will mean:
- The treatment will not work well as like another treatment would
- You will wear braces for longer than you would if you went for an orthodontist with more advanced equipment
Therefore it’s better to evaluate your dental needs and choose the best treatment with your orthodontist. Ask for discounts if possible but do not compromise quality over a couple of dollars.
Not Considering Early Orthodontic Treatment
Braces are ideal for all age groups but don’t wait for long if you want to get braces. Taking a lot of time deciding to straighten your teeth can be detrimental to your goal. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends taking your child for the first orthodontic appointment by age seven. Fixing your teeth as an adult is difficult because your bones have stopped growing, and you may need surgery. Therefore, your treatment process may take longer than a teen or child.
To sum it up, getting orthodontic devices is a good way to fix your smile and make it more desirable. Still, you must seek dental treatment on time to avoid making the mistakes for a smooth realignment process.
