Keeping Your Teeth Straight Post-Braces

smiling female holding invisible teeth braces front of perfect smile

If you have been wearing braces for years, you are probably looking forward to the day when you finally get to have yours removed! Of course, you are excited about finally getting to see your improved smile, with your teeth perfectly aligned. Imagine how enjoyable your first meal will be, too!

 

Before you get too excited though, there’s one thing you need to know about first – retainers. Yes. When it comes to keeping your teeth straight post-braces, retention plays a very important role.

 

Why Should I Wear a Retainer?

Just because your braces are now ready to be removed doesn’t mean your teeth won’t move anymore. The remodelling process done with your bone that has helped transform your smile didn’t start overnight. You can’t expect it to stop abruptly either.  The pressure from your aligner trays or arch wire made the bone and the connective tissue around your teeth to slightly loosen up, shift, and rebuild the bone around the teeth in the new and corrected positions. This is a really slow and continuous process and it continues even after the pressure from the arch wire or the aligner trays is gone. That’s why you should be committed to wearing retainers after your braces are taken off, to ensure that you get to enjoy that amazing new smile for years and years.

 

How Does a Retainer Work?

Retainers act like brakes, preventing teeth from moving or shifting. Teeth like to shift little by little over time. Retainers tell the roots of your teeth to stop moving, stay in place and properly aligned. There are some retainers that are fixed behind your teeth. The more common ones though are removable. They are made of a metal wire and acrylic fitted to your mouth, intended to guide your teeth. You have to remember though that retainers need to be worn regularly if you want them to work.

 

How Long Would I Have to Wear Retainers For?

The really crucial period is during the first six months after the braces are removed. This is because the teeth are still trying to move actively. For this reason, it is suggested that you wear your retainers for those six months full time. When that is over, you can start wearing your removable retainers only at night, for the rest of your life.

 

You have read right. You see, while your teeth are really strong, they also shift naturally. And the only way you can keep your teeth looking as good as they are now for as long as you can is to wear retainers. Remember that you only have to wear them at night.

 

Since you have already invested a lot of your time and (maybe your money, too) on your orthodontic treatment, it is only right that you take care of the results for the rest of your life. Talk to your orthodontist about your options, and the things you need to do to make sure your retainers are working for you.

 

 

Getting Braces? Here’s What You Can Expect

Close-up teeth with braces. Woman healthy smile. Orthodontic Treatment

Are you about to get your braces? If so, you are probably feeling a bit anxious now, wondering if braces hurt and what it will be like when you have them on. Well, you can relax, because in truth, the discomfort you will feel from braces is really manageable.

 

We know you would feel more confident when you know more so here are some things you’d want to know if you are getting braces:

 

PLACEMENT

You can expect some discomfort when braces are applied to your teeth. You have to eat slower and your meals will definitely take longer as you’d have to adjust to chewing. It is advisable that you only eat a soft food diet for the first couple of days. You can have soup and yoghurt, eggs, and pasta for example.

 

FIRST THREE DAYS

As your teeth start to realign, you are going to feel some discomfort. It will take time until you get used to the pressure of having wires and elastic ligatures in your mouth. You may find relief from discomfort by taking over-the-counter pain medication. Of course, your orthodontist will provide you with instructions on how you can deal with this discomfort.  In most cases, the slight pain and discomfort are gone by day five.

 

REGULAR ORTHODONTIC APPOINTMENTS

Getting your braces on is only the beginning of the process of straightening your teeth. You are going to have your braces adjusted by your orthodontist from time to time so that your teeth will continue to move properly. Make sure you make it to your appointments. Some discomfort is also expected for a couple of days after each orthodontist appointments.

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH DISCOMFORT

While the discomfort that may be caused by braces is inconvenient, it’s still very manageable. Besides, they only last for a few days after your braces are applied and when you get them adjusted. Over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen may help to relieve a headache and soreness that are often associated with getting braces. Rinsing with salt water solution may also help alleviate swelling and discomfort.

 

You are not the only one feeling anxious about getting braces. But you need not fret over it much. The question of whether or not braces will hurt should be set aside because they are really bearable. Think of why you’re getting braces instead, and focus on how great your teeth and your smile will be after the braces have done their job!

Aesthetic Options for Your Teeth

When it comes to human interaction the attractiveness of our teeth – our smile – is a crucial part of the first impression.  White healthy teeth means a healthy person who takes good care of him or herself and cracked, crooked, or missing teeth can be perceived as the opposite!  This, of course, isn’t always true – a person with missing teeth could simply have been the victim of a bad accident or other misfortune but that won’t always come across to the person they are speaking to.  Thankfully, there are methods offered that can help you obtain or restore a gorgeous gleam for your smile.

Braces

For fixing crooked teeth in either children or adults braces remain a terrific option.  Braces are long-term dental work that are affixed to the teeth in multiple ways.  Over time the pressure applied by braces will coax the teeth into better alignment giving a gorgeous symmetrical look. 

Veneers

For people with small chips, cracks, or stained teeth veneers are a great option.  Thin porcelain shells that are custom-fitted and attached to the front of your teeth they can immediately whiten and brighten your smile and give it a long-lasting and healthy look.  If you just want to brighten your smile veneers are the way to go.

Crowns

If you have more serious issues with major cracks, extremely large fillings, or root canals then crowns are right for you.  Crowns, also called dental caps, are tooth shaped caps that cover the teeth all the way to the gum line.  Unlike veneers crowns also have the ability to strengthen the teeth but in order to be fitted properly a portion of the tooth needs to be removed.  They’re always the correct choice for teeth with structural issues.

Implants

If you lose your teeth and want to fill that gap the only way that used to be available was through dentures.  Dentures still remain a viable choice for those with multiple teeth needing to be replaced but for those with only one or two missing who want a more permanent solution dental implants are now available.  These implants will look and work like your natural teeth and with advances in dental technology are easier than ever to place.

As you can see there are a lot of great options for those wanting to add a little aesthetic power to their smile.  If you want some of that power for yourself contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.  We offer a full array of aesthetic options.