Most people feel very excited when they are about to get braces on their teeth, simply because they know that the braces will help them develop a better smile over time. If you are excited that you are getting braces soon, there are a few things you should know before this day comes. In fact, here are four important things you should know before you get your braces on.
Braces are not only for straightening teeth
When your orthodontist creates a plan for your braces, he or she will not only be concerned with straightening your teeth. There may be a few other concerns the orthodontist has, and he or she will factor these concerns in when developing a plan for your teeth. One top factor other than alignment is a person's bite. Braces are a great option for fixing a bite that is off, and this includes underbites and overbites.
You should complete all necessary dental work first
Another thing to know is that you should make sure you complete all necessary dental work before getting braces, including getting your teeth cleaned. While you can still get dental work done while wearing braces, your orthodontist will not want to put braces on your teeth if you have cavities in your mouth or other types of problems, so make sure you get that done before you go in to have your braces placed on your teeth.
You will need to spend extra time caring for your mouth while wearing braces
You should also understand that wearing braces will require some extra time and work if you want to keep your teeth clean. You will have to continue brushing your teeth as normal, but you may need to spend extra time flossing and rinsing your mouth. You will also have to spend time placing rubber bands on your brackets if this is something your orthodontist uses during your treatment.
There may be some things you cannot eat for a while
The other thing to realize is that you may have some limits when it comes to what you can eat with braces. Braces are placed on your teeth with cement, which holds well, but your braces could break if you eat the wrong things, such as taffy, chips, and hard candies.
One other thing you should know is that braces can hurt, especially when you initially get them placed on your teeth. Over time, though, the pain will go away, and you will get used to the way they feel. If you have questions about braces, talk to an orthodontist in your town.
For more information, contact a dental office like Cherry Hill Dentistry LLC today.
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