What Will I Look Like With Braces On?
The way your teeth look when you wear braces will depend entirely on the type of treatment you choose. But remember, orthodontics has come a long way since the days of those bulky metal contraptions that often come to mind when we think of the word ‘braces’. These days our options are far more discreet; some are even completely invisible!
What Do Six Month Smiles Braces Look Like?
Six Month Smiles braces are made from very thin wires that are less visible than a traditional brace. They can be seen when you smile, but the tooth-coloured wires will blend in with the natural hue of your teeth, which means they are far less noticeable than other types of brace.
What Do Invisalign Aligners Look Like?
Invisalign aligners are completely clear and have no brackets or wires, which means that nobody will be able to tell you’ve even got them on unless you tell them!
Are Braces Comfortable?
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, it’s natural to wonder about how comfortable they are to wear. Your braces might feel a little funny at first as your mouth adjusts to wearing them, but within a week or two, you’ll get used to them and shouldn’t feel a thing.
If you do feel any discomfort at the start of your treatment, you can take painkillers and apply orthodontic wax to any sore spots caused by the brackets rubbing against the inside of your mouth.
What Is It Like To Eat With Braces On?
When you first get your braces, we advise sticking to soft foods that are easy to eat – think soups, mashed potato and porridge. Once you’ve got used to your new braces, you can branch out to more solid foods. That said, your eating habits might change slightly whilst you’re wearing the braces; the shape of the brackets can prevent you from biting down on hard, crunchy foodstuff. It might be that you need to cut your food into smaller chunks that are easier to chew and avoid anything sticky that will get glued to your braces.
Of course, if you choose Invisalign braces to straighten your teeth, eating won’t be an issue because you can take them out at mealtimes! This means you can still dine on your favourite foods without having to worry about the impact on your braces.
How To Look After Your Teeth With Braces On
Another thing people wonder about before getting braces is how they would maintain their oral hygiene routine. Cleaning your teeth can be difficult when wearing them, but it’s still very important in preventing plaque from building around the brackets.
When wearing braces, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth more often than you would normally – ideally after every meal as well as before you go to bed and when you wake up. Rinse with water before brushing to help dislodge any food particles that might have gotten stuck in them.
Then, take your toothbrush and brush along the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Once you’ve brushed the surface of your teeth, clean each bracket too. We also recommend flossing as normal, although this practice is easier if you use a floss-threader. These simple, disposable tools are designed to thread dental floss through braces, retainers and dental bridges and can be bought from most pharmacies and supermarkets.
Again, if you choose to undergo Invisalign treatment, brushing and flossing are as simple as it’s always been; you can easily take your aligners off to tend to your dental hygiene.
What To Expect After Brace Treatment
A Beautiful New Smile, Of Course!
But as well as having a stunning, confidence-boosting set of teeth, there are a few other things to expect once your braces have come off.
Eating might feel a bit funny because, for the first time in a while, you’ll be able to bite into foods you might have avoided during your treatment.
You’ll also need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in that lovely new position; the type of retainer you’ll need and how often you’ll need to wear it will depend on your treatment type, but we’ll tell you everything you need to know in your consultation.
Ready to wear braces? Then give us a call! We’d love to hear from you – simply get in touch today and we’ll arrange a friendly chat to discuss your options with you.