If you want a great smile here’s what you need to know before getting braces so you move forward wisely to your best teeth.
After some consideration, you may have concluded that your dental health and appearance require to be revisited and have settled for dental braces.
While braces are ideal for correcting different dental issues, there are some things you need to know about them before having them installed.
As you might know, I write a lot about health. I authored the bestselling longevity book called Life is Long, Inside I share many research-based secrets to living longer, healthier younger.
In my research I discovered that maintaining good dental health can help you stay healthy overall. So you want to make sure that you’re taking good care of your teeth…which is why I wrote this article.
Here’s what you need to know before getting braces.
People undergo braces treatment to correct dental issues such as crooked and crowded teeth, an improper bite, and a misaligned jaw.
After braces treatment, individuals with crowded and crooked teeth enjoy new, beautiful smiles, while those with misaligned jaws experience the joy of having an ideal one. However, did you know that braces come in different types? Braces treatment is divided into fixed and removable appliances.
Patients can’t remove them voluntarily. They’re installed by connecting ceramic or metal brackets with orthodontic wire.
On the other hand, removable braces are just that; a patient can remove them at any time. Removable braces are custom-made, clear plastic trays that help align teeth without using metal braces. These plastic trays are commonly known as Invisalign.
While both removable and fixed braces correct dental issues, the Invisalign braces prices differ from those of fixed metal braces. In most cases, Invisalign is a bit cheaper compared to fixed braces. However, the difference in cost depends on the facility and geographic location.
Though traditional braces options require regular in-person appointments, some clear aligner treatments can be completed from the comfort of your own home. At-home clear aligners are best suited to treat milder conditions; so if your crowding or spacing isn’t too severe, it’s possible these options could work for you.
The most expensive part of orthodontic treatment is your doctor’s time. By eliminating frequent appointments, these treatments offer significant savings compared to traditional orthodontic methods.
They also make teeth straightening more convenient. Telehealth options like at-home clear aligner treatment free up your schedule, since you won’t need to take off work for your check-ins. Plus, many at-home aligner treatment plans only require wearing your aligners overnight—which makes it easy to incorporate into your lifestyle.
While many think braces are better installed during the teenage years, they’re ideal for people of all ages. Children, adults, and older adults can all have dental braces to perfect their smiles and correct other issues, such as misaligned jawlines.
That said, you shouldn’t allow your age to come between you and the smile you’ve desired for too long. Nevertheless, parents and guardians are advised to wait for their children to reach the age of 12-13 before they have braces treatment to allow the growth of several permanent teeth.
In some cases, patients are advised to have teeth extraction to facilitate braces treatment, especially if they want to straighten their teeth. For example, if the teeth are overly crowded or severely protruded, your dentist might advise you to get teeth extraction before installing braces.
However, teeth extraction is not always required when getting braces. If you fear tooth extraction, seek advice from your dentist first to know if it is necessary before having braces.
Dental braces, especially fixed braces applications, aren’t all smooth procedures. The treatment will likely last about two hours, and the patient will experience some pain and discomfort. Therefore, before getting dental braces, prepare for such an experience and plan to have the rest of the day off to recover.
Dental braces application might affect some of your oral functions. For example, after the installation, you might experience a minor lisp. In short, your speech will be altered for some time. However, as time passes, you’ll get used to the braces, and your speech will return to normal. Just view the lisp as the first step to getting the smile you’ve always wanted.
How do you feel when you have a food particle trapped between your teeth? The experience causes discomfort, making you want to remove the particle as soon as possible. Now, with dental braces, you don’t only have one but two rows of braces throughout your mouth, which are likely to cause too much discomfort. However, despite the pain, you shouldn’t despair. After a few weeks, you’ll get used to them and lead an everyday life without even noticing they’re there.
Dental flossing has never been easy, more so with braces on. This is because the wire connecting the braces runs from one tooth to another, making it difficult to floss the teeth. For this reason, many people with braces usually avoid it.
Nevertheless, it’s vital to understand that caring for your teeth remains essential, even with braces. Therefore, despite the difficulty, you should floss your teeth at least twice a day to keep your teeth as healthy as possible, away from plaque buildup.
Fortunately, there are practical ways to floss your teeth with braces, such as flossing the teeth from behind the teeth. That said, ask your dentist or orthodontist about a better way to floss your teeth without difficulty.
No one wouldn’t want to make a good impression once they open their mouth to smile or speak. Those who think their dental health and appearance aren’t as good as they’d want are always looking for ways to improve them. Fortunately, with dental braces, you may enjoy a beautiful smile and aligned jawline. Nevertheless, before considering this treatment, ensure you understand everything it entails to make an informed decision.
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