Posted on April 14, 2021
Americans perceive people with straight teeth to have more desirable qualities than those with crooked teeth. A Kelton Study shows that nearly three out of four (73%) of Americans will trust someone with a nice smile than one with a good job, outfit, or car. 45% of respondents believe that an individual with straight teeth was more likely to get a job when competing with someone with a similar skill set and experience.
It is no wonder over 1,000,000 patients worldwide have turned to Invisalign to straighten their teeth, with the number growing daily. Whether on metal braces or Invisalign aligners, you may need to carefully look after your teeth and orthodontic devices or risk costly mistakes. Here are five pitfalls to watch out for when getting orthodontic treatment.
Traditional braces and Invisalign work on the same principle, applying gentle pressure on your crooked teeth, gradually realigning them to the correct position. Your orthodontists may provide you with a list of foods you may have to avoid during the treatment periods. Hard, sticky, chewy, and crunchy foods can easily bend the wires, damaging your metal braces. To avoid placing excess pressure on your brackets, stick to softer foods such as smoothies, pasta, and soups.
You may have to visit your orthodontist throughout the treatment period. For metal braces, it may be every four to eight weeks, while Invisalign patients may have to pick their new aligners every two weeks. The visit allows the specialists to analyze your progression and tighten your brackets and wires. Skipping your appointments may set back your treatment schedule, as you may miss identifying issues that require immediate attention.
Oral hygiene is essential to overall health and well-being, whether on metal braces or not—however, the demand for a higher level of dental care increases during orthodontic treatment. Food particles can easily hide between your wires and Invisalign plates. Neglecting to brush and floss your teeth while wearing braces or using aligners can lead to tooth discoloration, decay, or gum disease. It is advisable to brush at least twice and floss at least once daily. If you can’t brush after a meal, use a fluoride mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
All trained orthodontists are dentists, but only 5% of dentists are orthodontists. While getting braces from your family dentist may sound convenient, it may not be the right option. Orthodontics attend an extra two-to-three-year program on identifying malocclusions and treating them. Your dentist may lack the requisite skill to fit in your metal braces.
Orthodontic treatment is ideal for all age groups. However, it is advisable to take advantage of early orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth. Bones harden as your child grows older, making it harder to push the teeth to the correct position. It may also take longer for the realignment to be complete.
Wearing orthodontic devices is an excellent way to straighten your smile and make it more desirable. While seeking treatment, it is vital to avoid the five mistakes above for a smooth realignment process. For more information on how to take care of your metal braces and Invisalign aligners, reach out to Johnson Family Orthodontics.