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Orthodontic treatment with braces is one of the most common methods of correcting teeth that are crooked, crowded, or overlapping. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, having straight teeth also improves digestion, increases confidence, and reduces the risk of tooth decay.

Getting orthodontic treatment can seem like a big decision. Although many people see the value of orthodontic treatment, the decision to get braces is often a difficult one. Before deciding on orthodontic treatment with braces, it’s vital to think carefully about a few factors. That’s why today, one of our specialists will explain everything you need to know to make an informed decision about whether or not to get metal braces.

Do You Want Fixed or Removable Orthodontics?

Many people, especially teens, wear metal braces. However, most adults prefer removable braces because of the considerable freedom they provide. The main benefit of removable braces is that you can take them off for short periods (up to half an hour) for things like job interviews, client meetings, or even dating, even if you should only do so to eat. Whether you choose permanent or detachable braces, it’s vital to consider the pros and cons of each.

Aesthetics Of Metal Braces

Generally, everyone would like invisible braces, but even those who don’t want them still to want something quite discreet. It’s crucial that you like the way your teeth will look while wearing braces. The good news is that modern orthodontic treatment options include clear, practically invisible braces you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Can You Afford This Treatment?

Feeling confident about your smile is valuable, but braces may be costly. If you’re having trouble convincing yourself that braces are worth the investment, consider the positive impact they could have on your life in the future. To that end, consider the time and money spent on orthodontic treatment as an investment in your future self-esteem and overal well-being. Besides, there are a lot of discounts, offers and insurance plans to help you cover the costs.

Can You Deal with A Little Discomfort?

Having your teeth straightened always causes some level of discomfort. However, keeping going is crucial. The bright side is that you will quickly adjust to wearing braces and become barely conscious of them. Focusing your mind on the matter can help you overcome the minor discomforts of wearing braces by centering on the many benefits you will enjoy in the long run.

Let Our Professionals Orthodontists Take Care of Everything!

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of straightening your teeth. Straight teeth are a priority for many people. You should take pride in your teeth seriously if you realize that doing so is vital to you. The thousands of satisfied patients are proof of the positive effect. It might change your life for the better, too.

Oral health, cost, time, care, and aesthetics are all factors to consider when thinking about getting braces. If you want to change your smile, at Ortho Center OC, we have a specialized orthodontic staff ready to provide all the help you need. Contact us today!

Everyone who undertakes orthodontic treatment hopes to keep their teeth straight, healthy, and beautiful for the rest of their lives! Because many orthodontic treatments take a long time, patience, and money to finish and achieve the desired result, patients naturally anticipate their results to last. However, it is usual for people to overlook the retention phase, which is possibly the most important part of the treatment.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your teeth stay in their ideal position and condition after the treatment is completed.

 Why do Teeth Move?

Our teeth have good memories. They recall their previous positions before orthodontic treatment and frequently want to return to them. Known as ‘relapse’, it is more likely that teeth will come back to their pre-braces locations where there were spaces between the teeth or the teeth were very twisted. After braces are removed, teeth and gums can take years to settle. It is widely known that minor tooth movements occur in all people and that a variety of medical conditions can influence bone turnover and consequent tooth movement inside the bone.

Some other situations could occur that could turn straight teeth into crooked teeth.

Teeth Grinding and Clenching – It is an oral condition known as Bruxism. When people are stressed, they often grind their top and bottom teeth together or clench them tightly. The act of grinding and clenching the teeth can cause the gums to recede. Teeth aren’t as secure as they used to be with less gum tissue, so they can move about more easily.

Tooth Loss – When a tooth is lost, the teeth around it begin to shift towards the gap. The only method to prevent this is to get a partial denture or a dental implant placed by a dentist.

Wisdom Teeth – Wisdom teeth are usually extracted during adolescence because the new teeth can force the other teeth out of place. Anyone with braces before wisdom teeth appear should keep an eye on them so they can be extracted as soon as they become a threat to other teeth.

Gum Disease – This is also known as periodontal disease. It has the potential to damage the teeth, gums, and jaw bone. Teeth lose their foundation in the gums over time. This can lead them to shift around easily, resulting in a crooked smile.

Protecting Straight Teeth After Braces

Braces are an investment. Just by doing the following, you can extend the life of your investment.

• Wear a retainer to keep your teeth in place. Your teeth will not shift if you use a retainer. Wear it according to your orthodontist’s instructions.
• Make sure to see your dentist regularly. Every six months, you should see a dentist. The dentist will be able to detect indicators of wisdom tooth emergence as well as gum disease. If either of these scenarios occurs, your dentist can advise you on how to keep your teeth straight.
• If you have bruxism, wear a nightguard. Wear a nightguard, also known as a mouthguard at night if you grind or clench your teeth. A dentist can custom make one that fits your mouth and is more comfortable for you.
• Practicing good dental hygiene is important. After each meal, clean and floss your teeth three times a day. Your teeth and gums will be healthy and strong as a result of this.

If you see any changes in your smile, contact an orthodontist right away to see what can be done. Straightening teeth that are only mildly crooked is easier and requires less time.

When it comes to having braces its crucial to know how to properly clean and maintain your braces for the healthiest gums possible throughout the process. In some cases having cleaner gums and braces can actually speed up the process of the entire treatment plan; of course this is always up to the discretion of your orthodontist. The healthier the gums are the faster your teeth are able to move and reposition into a new straighter bite. Having poor oral hygiene throughout your orthodontic treatment can result in decalcification, cavities, swollen tender gums, and permanent staining of your teeth.

Brushing Techniques

There are a few different ways you can go about brushing your teeth with braces and keeping up great oral hygiene. One of the best brushing techniques used to brush your teeth with braces is to brush around the wire above, under and as much surface area as possible. It’s best to always brush after any meal or after any sugary drinks to ensure that you are washing away any debris. If you aren’t able to brush immediately after eating, using an oral rinse is a great way to get any extra leftover food out of your mouth before you are able to properly brush your teeth.

Consider Investing in a Water Pik

Water Piks, also known as water flossers are an excellent way to remove any extra food and plaque out of your braces and teeth. A water flosser is a much more effective and efficient way of taking out the most possible amount of leftover food in your mouth without irritating your gums and allowing your braces to be free from any unnecessary poking and prodding.

Oral Rinses

After properly rinsing and brushing your teeth it’s highly recommended to use a oral rinse to maximize your oral health. Using oral rinses designed specifically for braces can help prevent cavities, strengthen teeth and enamel, prevents white spots, and it soothes oral tissues and provides additional cleaning to remove debris left behind after brushing and flossing.

If you or your child is struggling trying to find the best brushing techniques that works for them, give any one of our offices a call where a specialist will be able to answer all of your questions and give your great pointers on how to maximize your oral health during your orthodontic treatment.

Braces are a temporary solution to crooked, misaligned or gapped teeth. They serve as a cosmetic solution that straightens the teeth and jaw and makes your teeth look good so that they can make an excellent first impression when meeting someone else for the first time. There are many components to braces including brackets, straps, wires, elastics, and rubber bands. These components differ in shape and material depending on what type of brace you get and also depend on your needs in terms of comfort or aesthetic appeal.

How to Clean your Braces

In order to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you should clean your braces regularly. You can use a toothbrush, floss or mouthwash. Braces are an important part of most people’s daily lives and can also help to improve the appearance of your teeth. It is important for one to maintain braces and clean them properly every day or you can be highly susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Braces, on the other hand, are not only important for your smile but also for your oral health as well. Braces should be brushed and maintained after every meal or snack to maintain their effectiveness. Braces are essential tools for a healthy smile for someone who has misaligned, gapped or protruding teeth. However, over time, food and other substances can get stuck between your teeth and gum where the braces cannot reach. Using a toothbrush can be quite tedious and tedious for cleaning out the small spaces. Some dentists recommend using mouthwash to clean your braces between visits to the dentist because it is gentle enough to remove plaque and food particles without damaging your teeth or gums. It also helps to freshen breath as well as provide remineralization of teeth enamel so that they become stronger and harder. Brushing should always be done in an up-and-down motion with a slow, gentle pressure on each tooth for at least two minutes per day so that you can effectively remove plaque buildup.

Braces are not just for aesthetics, they play an important role in ensuring we have straight teeth and good overall oral health. In order for them to function properly, they need to be adjusted and tightened on a regular basis by your orthodontist. In addition to checking the tightening the braces regularly, it is also important to keep an eye out for signs that indicate you need more care than usual such as discoloration or plaque buildup on your brackets.

How to Maintain your Braces

When it comes to picking up food particles from between the brackets, dental picks for braces do a great job at cleaning between teeth. They are easy to use with little effort required by the user – especially for braces which can cause limited dexterity when cleaning between the wires and brackets. There are many tools on the market that can help you manage maintaining braces like dental picks and wax. However, if you have any immediate trouble with your braces or brackets such as them falling off or painful wires then you should visit your orthodontist right away. Maintain your braces by brushing them at least twice a day with toothpaste or baking soda. If you need stronger toothpaste, use one that has whitening properties. Additionally, mixing in some peroxide into the paste will make it more effective as well as help remove plaque from between your teeth.