5 Common Braces Mistakes to Avoid

One in every five Americans is not confident about their smile. Bad bites, crooked teeth, and crowded smiles can render a huge blow to your self-image. It easy to see why more than four and a half million Americans are wearing braces today.

Besides straight teeth, orthodontics can improve your oral health, improve your facial structure, and give you that beautiful smile you’ve always yearned for. However, your journey to straight teeth may be marred with costly pitfalls that can delay your results. While some mistakes are purely superficial, others have the potential to derail your treatment plans.

Here are five common orthodontic mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Ordering Braces from a General Dentist

It may sound convenient for you to get your braces from your family dentist. However, it may not be the best option. It is recommended that you use an orthodontist to get affordable braces. While all orthodontists are trained dentists, only 5% of dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists attend an extra two-year residency program to gain the skills and expertise to fit aligners for straight teeth properly. A Smiley Face orthodontist is better placed to design a treatment plan that’s customized for you.

2. Missing Orthodontic Appointments

You’ll likely need to continue seeing your orthodontists throughout the treatment period. The orthodontist takes time to analyze your progress, ensuring you’re on the right path to straight teeth.

The orthodontic visits also provide you with a chance to ask any questions about the treatment process as well as have any broken parts of the braces repaired or replaced. Skipping the appointments runs the risk of deviating from the treatment plan, which lengthens the period you have to have the braces on.

3. Neglecting Dental Hygiene

Braces demand a higher level of oral hygiene throughout the treatment period. Poor oral health leads to tooth discoloration, halitosis, and tooth decay. Food particles trapped between the brackets and wires support oral bacteria growth, leading to plaque and tartar formation. The plaque may eventually cause gum disease.

Orthodontists recommend brushing your teeth after every meal with a soft, interdental toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You should also try to floss at least once daily.

4. Eating Restricted Foods

For you to attain the straight teeth you’ve always desired, your Florida orthodontist may provide you with a list of foods that you have to avoid during the treatment period. Hard foods such as nuts, kernels, and chips may require excessive force while chewing, which may damage your brackets and wires. Sticky foods can remain lodged in between teeth, making it hard to maintain proper oral hygiene. You should switch to softer foods such as smoothies, yogurts, and soups.

5. Not Considering Early Orthodontic Treatment

While braces remain ideal for all age groups, waiting too long may be detrimental to your goal of having straight teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends taking your child for the first orthodontic appointment by age seven. As an adult, your bones may have stopped growing and some structural alterations cannot be achieved without surgery. The treatment process may also take longer as compared to a child or teen.

Braces are excellent options for correcting your bad bites and achieving straight teeth. It would be best to avoid the five mistakes above that can slow down your realignment process. For more information, you can contact Smiley Face at (407) 723-0060.