Avoiding Orthodontic Relapse

Just because you have worn braces and have straightened your teeth, it doesn't mean they will stay straight forever. It is important to care for your newly aligned teeth in order to make sure your results are long lasting. There are two main things you must do in order to make sure the months (or years) of wearing braces were worth it.

First, when you get your braces off, you will have to wear your retainers for a majority of the day. For the first year, you will only remove your retainers when eating or brushing your teeth. Always make sure to brush your braces gently with warm water and toothpaste every day to keep them clean.

After a year has passed, the second thing you must do is make sure you wear your retainers to bed every night. You will enjoy not having to wear them during the day, but don't assume that skipping out on your retainers a few nights will be okay. If this happens, you will notice that after the first night of wearing them again you will feel sore. Your teeth will still be somewhat loose, so always wear your retainers!

If you ever break or lose your retainers, call use immediately to have a replacement made. Learn more about  orthodontic relapse and give us a call at (702) 838-0707.

The Benefits of Straight Teeth

Never take things for granted. This saying can apply to many aspects of your life, including health. Those with straight teeth may not even realize how lucky they are if they don't understand the benefits of having straight teeth. If your teeth are crooked you may be familiar with how difficult it can be to thoroughly clean your teeth. Depending on the severity of your personal case, you may get cavities easier than others and you may even have a harder time pronouncing certain words or taking a clean bite when eating.

Teeth that are perfectly aligned help improve the look of your smile, but they also greatly improve your oral health. There are many benefits of having straight teeth. The most important ones are the ability to keep your teeth clean and to use them properly for biting and speaking. For more information on the benefits of straight teeth as well as how you can straighten your teeth, read about it on our page.

What is a Malocclussion?

A malocclusion is the technical term for crooked teeth. When your teeth are not properly spaced, different sizes, or positioned out of the smile line, you have a malocclusion. Malocclusion in children usually improves over time, but in adults it will usually worsen.

You may not think your crooked teeth are anything to worry about, but they can affect your oral health. Crooked teeth tend to be harder to clean and food can get trapped in between teeth more easily. Sometimes they can affect your speech or ability to chew and bite properly as well. From a psychological standpoint, crooked teeth can make a person feel self conscious about the appearance of their smile.

Malocclusion is resolved with orthodontic treatment. Usually braces are the most common form, taking anywhere from two to three years to straighten all teeth. There are other options like Invisalign, oral surgery, but most patients are better candidates for braces. 

Whitening After Braces

For many patients, getting their braces off is an exciting time, a time to see the full results of their smile transformation. Straighter teeth helps boost the confidence of many and have health benefits like a better bite, chewing ability, and aids in speaking properly. If you are almost done wearing braces, you are probably counting down the days until they come off.

You are probably aware that you will need to wear retainers. You should also know what getting them off can feel strange for a while, almost as strange as the sensation when you first got them on. There are many things to look forward to- biting into an apple, enjoying popcorn, and even hard candies again.

If you have worn your braces for several years, you may be concerned about the color of your teeth. After all, you might have waited years to see all of your teeth again, they might as well be whiter too. If you consume food and drink that can stain your teeth, there is a good chance that over the years the areas around your bracket might be slightly discolored. At this point in your treatment, you might want to consider teeth whitening. There are many forms of whitening for those who only need some whitening to those whose teeth are noticeably stained. Read more about teeth whitening options post-orthodontic treatment at our page. An in office treatment can whiten teeth up to eight shades, but if you only need minor whitening, take home kits might be a better option for you.

Orthodontics- A Dental Specialty

Orthodontists straighten teeth with special attention to both the aesthetics of a smile and the function of a bite. You might already know that orthodontists help patients straighten their teeth with the use of braces, but did you know that to be a specialist, one must go through extra training beyond what is required of a general dentist? They must pass the Dental Admission Test even before going to dental school. Braces are kept on sometimes for years at a time, and an experienced orthodontist can help make the process as painless as possible. In order to get the best results with your new smile, make sure you are being treated by an experienced licensed orthodontist.  At Braces Las Vegas, Dr. Kate Nguyen is our orthodontic specialist, having graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and her doctorate, a DDS, MS from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. Read more about her and general orthodontics at our website. 

Foods to Avoid with Braces

Before getting your braces, you might want to enjoy foods like hard candies and whole apples while you can. While braces are sturdy and made to adhere to your teeth for months and even years, some foods can damage your brackets and wires, so you will have to put off eating those foods until your braces come off. Basically anything hard that is meant to be chewed, or anything highly acidic should either be eaten in very small quantities or avoided altogether.

Certain foods can also do damage to your enamel, so it is important to be aware of the foods you consume and which ones are safer options with braces. The last thing you want to deal with is the extra cost of repairing your orthodontic gear or going through extra treatments to whiten teeth. For more information on specific foods to avoid while wearing braces, visit our page.

Getting Used to Your New Braces

Wearing braces for the first time can take some getting used to. The feeling of the brackets and wires in your mouth may feel foreign at first, but over time you will forget they are even there! While you are getting used to your new braces, there are some things you can do to help alleviate any discomfort felt from your braces. From taking over the counter painkillers to monitoring what you eat, there are many ways to make your braces experience more pleasant. For tips on how to alleviate braces discomfort, visit our site.