Braces can often be a daunting experience for young children, and can even be somewhat nerve-wracking for adults who are having braces put in at an older age. However, if you do your research properly, having braces doesn’t have to be a scary experience for anyone! Here, we’re talking you through everything you need to know about braces.
What Do Braces Do?
The entire point of braces is to gradually move the position of your teeth in order to straighten them up. While they are often known to help crooked teeth, there are a number of other reasons as to why people may require braces, including correcting overbites and underbites, or to help make space for wisdom teeth to come through. In some cases, braces may help to fix jaw problems, depending on the severity of the issue. Generally, you will be directed from your dentist to an orthodontist London who specialises in braces, and after an initial examination, your fitting appointment will be arranged.
What Kind Of Braces Are There?
There a number of different types of braces that you can consider, and each type will be matched to your individual requirements and what you’re hoping to achieve. The most common type, which are funded by the NHS to patients under the age of 18, is the metal train track braces. These can be customised to now include different colours in order to make them look a little more attractive, to make the wearer feel less uncomfortable with these in. However, due to advancements in technology white or ‘invisible’ braces are also an option – but these tend to come at an additional cost. One of the main brands for this type of brace is Invisalign. In addition to the braces, many wearers are often required to wear a retainer after the braces have been removed in order to ensure the teeth remain in their new position. It is important to wear this for as long as required, even though it may seem like a chore after having spent all that time in braces.
How Long Are Braces Worn For?
Typical treatment times are approximately two years; however, this depends on each individual case. Your prognosis will be dependent on your teeth’s condition and whether or not your bite also needs fixing. There are a number of methods which can be used if you really want to speed up the process, but these can be painful, often involve some form of surgery and are generally not recommended.
Does Having Braces Hurt?
The simple answer to this is, yes, there can be some pain when your braces are first fitted, and when they are tightened. However, this is to be expected due to the pressure that is put against your teeth. While the actual process of having the braces fitted may not hurt, after the procedure you are likely to experience some soreness and aching. Nevertheless, this should subside after a few days, and for what it’s worth, you’re going to have a beautiful smile afterwards!
How To Keep Your Mouth Clean When You Have Braces
Keeping your mouth clean when you have braces can be particularly important and flossing is often a major part of this. While you should ensure that your teeth are still cleaned as part of a regular routine as normal, there are some special mechanisms which you can purchase in order to guarantee that you are removing all food debris which may be stuck behind the braces and cause issues down the line.