Orthodontics is one of the most life-changing cosmetic dentistry procedures. If not only improves the appearance of your smile, it can improve the function of your teeth, and their health. Getting orthodontics can reduce your risk of gum disease, by up to 50%. And the results can last a lifetime.
But getting those results isn’t easy. It can take months, even years to achieve the results you’re looking for. But there are ways to make orthodontic treatment easier. Here are five tips to help you have the easiest orthodontic experience possible.
Consider Invisalign
Invisalign use clear plastic aligners instead of metal brackets and wires to move our teeth. These aligners are removable, which can make treatment easier in many ways: fewer diet restrictions and hygiene challenges.
Invisalign is not the perfect solution, and it might not be right for you, but you should make sure you consider it and its potential benefits for you.
Follow Instructions
When you start orthodontic treatment, we’ll give you detailed instructions for wearing and caring for your braces or aligners. We don’t do this for the entertainment value (believe us, they’re as boring to us as to you). We do it because these instructions will make a big difference in how well your orthodontic experience goes.
Following instructions will speed your treatment and make it more likely that you get the results you desire. They can also help you avoid complications from treatment. It’s easier to follow the instructions than deal with these problems.
Up Your Hygiene Game
Once you finish your orthodontic treatment, your teeth will be easier to clean, which is why your risk of gum disease goes down. But while you’re wearing braces or aligners, your teeth are at an elevated risk for gum disease and cavities. To head off these problems, it’s a good idea to improve your approach to oral hygiene.
Consider improving your hygiene toolkit with an electric toothbrush and/or a water flosser. These tools can make it easier to clean your teeth, especially when you’re cleaning around braces.
Make a Travel Kit
We know, people are traveling less these days, and even trips to the office might be few and far between right now. However, it’s a good idea to prepare a kit of essential tools to take with you whenever you do leave the house. The kit should include hygiene tools (toothbrush and floss or flossers), wax for braces, elastics for braces, a pair of tweezers, and whatever tool helps you get our aligners in and out easily.
Having these things on hand will help you respond to situations that might come up. They can help you keep your treatment on track and reduce the likelihood of emergencies related to your orthodontic treatment.
Give Up Troublesome Habits
There are many things you currently do every day that might interfere with your orthodontic treatment or might cause problems for you.
If you’re a smoker, consider quitting or at least giving it up while you’re getting your teeth straightened. Cigarettes and other tobacco products contribute to oral health problems like gum disease and cavities, and they can make it hard for your body to build new bone, which is an essential part of the orthodontic process.
Chewing on pens and other non-food objects can damage aligners and braces, and they can interfere with your treatment. It’s best to give it up.
Chewing gum can be healthy if not done too much, but it can also cause problems with cleaning braces. It’s probably not worth it when you’re getting your teeth straightened. If you do want to chew gum, do it carefully.
Drinking soda and other acidic beverages is always bad for your teeth, but the damage can be multiplied when you are wearing braces. Snacking is a similar situation, and it can be even more troublesome if you wear clear aligners that need to be removed each time you eat. And that require you brush and floss your teeth every time you eat or drink.
Looking for Easy Orthodontic Treatment in Fort Atkinson?
Are you considering straightening your teeth in or around Fort Atkinson? We can help make sure you have the best experience and get the results you want.
To learn more about your orthodontic options, please call (920) 563-7323 today for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist at BKS Dental.
