Braces Tips

Visit your orthodontist before heading out. They will make necessary changes in equipment, if required, and ensure that your treatment proceeds as planned. If you wear traditional braces, the dentist will check your brackets and wires to make sure they are firmly in place. Once you get a go-ahead, you can have fun without worrying.

Pack a few necessary orthodontic tools as a basic dental travel kit. It will help you be prepared for dental emergencies without panicking in the middle of the holiday. For example, dental wax,floss and the different brushes that you may need.

Avoid sticky and chewy food, hard candies, corn on the cob, sugary or fizzy drinks, whole fruits like apples and pear (cut them into slices instead), cookies and all varieties of nuts.

If you wear Invisalign or aligners, you may feel tempted to take them out for photos or while you’re enjoying time with friends. To ensure your treatment stays on track, you need to wear your aligners 22 hours a day, even while you are traveling.

Generally braces are put on after the last milk tooth has dropped, i.e. about 11 to 12 years of age. However it is better to see an orthodontist at age 8 to 9 to have an assessment as sometimes, early treatment may be beneficial to the growth of the jaw bones and/or to prevent complications.

In recent years, more adults are seeking braces treatment to improve their smile. They see it as an investment on themselves. All adults should maintain healthy teeth and a beautiful smile, and sometimes they may need braces to help them achieve this. 1 in 5 braces patients is over 21 years old! Also, over time, adults may experience bone loss or gum disease, which can be prevented with proper orthodontics procedures.

Many of our adult patients choose to use clear aligners, so no one has to know you are wearing braces!

In some cases, extraction is necessary to create space for the teeth to straighten. However not all cases requires extraction and it is best that you see an orthodontist to check whether you need extraction.