Dr. Carlyle provides orthodontic treatments for kids, teens, and adults looking to improve their smiles and achieve more properly aligned teeth. Straighter teeth, of course, contribute to a nicer smile, and straight teeth can pave the way for a lifetime of great first impressions.
The three kinds of braces that Dr. Carlyle works with—clear braces, metal braces, and Invisalign—can provide both structural and social benefits.
Once braces have reduced or eliminated gaps between your teeth and corrected issues like underbites and overbites, then you can start experiencing the functional benefits of finding a better smile through braces.
Straighter teeth take a lot of the stress off teeth when you eat and chew food. Taking that stress away over time can mean less wear and tear, which can often translate into keeping your original teeth for your entire lifetime.
Straighter teeth can also make it easier to clean and floss your teeth—further contributing to your dental success for decades to come!
Ways to Have a Great Relationship with Your Braces
Adults with braces understandably want to know how they can keep their teeth looking great for longer and what kinds of foods they can eat with braces.
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Habits to Accentuate and Habits to Avoid
There are also some habits that adults with braces will want to accentuate (e.g., brushing after eating soft or sticky foods and perhaps using a floss threader to clean around braces) and habits you’ll want to avoid (chewing on ice cubes or smoking).
An interdental toothbrush can also help adults with braces keep their teeth clean and beautiful.
An interdental toothbrush can give you a deeper clean and help root out chewy or soft foods that have a way of embedding themselves around the brackets of your braces.
Although you should really try to eliminate or reduce chewy foods like bagels and some desserts, an interdental toothbrush is a nice tool to have if you ever wind up eating those chewy foods.
A lot of adults with braces also say that sticky foods like granola or chocolate bars can get lodged between their brackets and be hard to clean. Popcorn might be another food to avoid. Using an interdental toothbrush and flossing at least once per day can really help remove food debris.
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Periodically Check for Loose Brackets or Wires
A little self-maintenance can go a long way between checkups and readjustments at Dr. Carlyle’s office. While you should always wear a mouthguard when playing sports, there are more ways for your brackets to come loose.
If as you run your tongue against your brackets you notice that one has come loose or a wire appears to be loose between one or more brackets, then contact Carlyle Orthodontics immediately.
Rubber bands used to bring your jaw into better alignment can also snap. It’s a good idea to stop into your orthodontists if that ever happens.
Making sure that you make every follow-up adjustment appointment at your orthodontist is also important because doing so every four to six weeks can ensure that your treatment is progressing along as scheduled.
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Consider an Invisalign for Realignment
The American Association of Orthodontists has found that more adults are undergoing orthodontic treatment with metal braces and Invisalign than ever before in history. Nearly five million adults had braces in the last surveyed year—a 14% jump over a short two-year timespan.
Part of the reason is the comfort, convenience, and effectiveness of Invisalign, a kind of invisible aligner. Invisalign works for adults with braces since it’s removable, discrete and great for oral hygiene.
To learn more ways to have a great relationship with your braces, get in touch with us today! At Carlyle Orthodontics, we make your smile a priority.