Braces are not a magical teeth realignment spell. They put in the hard work over months or even years to gradually move teeth into the correct position, fix gaps, or correct bite issues. As a result, patients enjoy straighter smiles and fewer oral hygiene issues.
For the most part, braces take their own time fixing your teeth. However, you can prolong your braces treatment with bad habits, which can cause problems that require additional orthodontic visits and sometimes additional months of treatment. Here are the main things you can do to speed up your treatment and get your braces off faster.
Want to find out if you or your child needs braces? Visit Reese Orthodontics in Charleston, SC for leading orthodontic care.
Maintain a Proper Diet
The food you eat has a major impact on the effectiveness of braces. Food that is too hard or sticky can cling to braces and potentially bend the archwire, reducing its effectiveness. If a bracket comes loose, you will need to schedule an extra visit to your orthodontist. Until you can get in, your braces will not be as effective at treating your teeth.
The worst foods to eat while wearing braces are sticky, hard, or crunchy foods. This includes taffy, hard candy, caramel, hard nuts, popcorn, fibrous vegetables like celery, and tough meat.
Food Preparation Tip
Some food can be safe to eat if you prepare them correctly. Chewy bread like bagels or baguettes can bend wires in the motion of tearing off a bite, which is why cutting them beforehand can make them safer to eat. This goes for raw carrots, apples, and steak as well.
Oral Hygiene Tips
When your mouth is healthier and free of debris, braces can do their job more easily. Clean gums allow teeth to move more effectively. This is why plaque buildup and other issues can delay your braces coming off. Here are a few tips to help you get your braces off faster:
- Brushing regularly and with the right technique can be difficult with braces. However, you have to be careful brushing around your wires and brackets while also cleaning out food and debris. Angle your brush to hit all the sides of your teeth.
- Use an oral irrigator to further remove plaque and other debris from your teeth. Light water pressure can help you keep your braces and gums clean, even with wires in the way.
- Regular flossing helps complement your brushing to further remove plaque. Flossing can be more difficult with braces. Ask your orthodontist for floss threaders that allow you to floss around your braces.
- Keeping your tongue clean helps to prevent bad breath while preventing bacteria from invading your braces and contributing to plaque buildup.
- Quit smoking to keep your mouth’s moisture content more consistent, prevent cavities, and reduce complications with your braces.
- Keep your elastic bands on as per your orthodontist’s instructions. Only take them out while eating. If you forget them or lose them, they can’t fix your smile or correct your jaw alignment. This will prolong your treatment.
- Keep your appointments up so that your orthodontist can adjust the pressure of your braces regularly. If you skip these appointments, your treatment time will likely increase.
A Note on Accelerated Treatment Options
You can ask your orthodontist about the possibility of accelerated treatment options. These can aid your teeth in moving to their new positions more quickly. Certain non-surgical devices can reduce your treatment time but are only available by prescription. Ask your doctor if you may be eligible for these treatments.
Choose Reese Orthodontics
If you or your child needs orthodontic treatment, you need professional advice and feasible payment options. For orthodontic treatments in Charleston, SC, Reese Orthodontics offers the latest technology and treatment plans. Our advanced and comfortable orthodontic treatments can be customized to suit your needs. A consultation with Reese Orthodontics includes scans, a comprehensive exam, and a conversation with the orthodontist to discover which treatment options are right for you.
Schedule an appointment with us today to stay ahead of your oral health and receive the best possible treatment in your area.