Braces, Aligners and Orthodontics

Orthodontic Care at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic

While most dentists and dental clinics are closed across the world amidst COVID-19 concerns, it is indeed stressful if you are undergoing dental treatments or have a dental emergency. Well, staying locked at home can be traumatizing and further more worrisome when you encounter a dental issue. Worry not! We are always open to help you in many ways to keep your smile looking great while you stay at home. We’ve compiled a list of 6 important tips that you can practice to take care for your smile if you are wearing Braces or Aligners.

  • Brush and floss your teeth regularly

It is always important to keep your teeth clean. Whether you are undergoing orthodontic treatment or not. It is highly recommend to brush twice a day – Once in the morning and once at night before bedtime. In addition to Brushing, dental surgeons advise flossing (little tricky with braces but can become a daily routine with practice), as it is one of the important and effective habits that can help dislodge food between your teeth and lower the bacteria

  • Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and use of fluoride containing mouth wash

Orthodontists suggest soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for brushing the teeth gently, as they should not dislodge the bracket. Fluoride toothpaste are still an essential part of good oral hygiene. This is simply because fluoride is a powerful anti-cavity agent! After brushing, clean your teeth with a fluoride mouthwash. This helps to keep white spots and cavities away.

  • Don’t panic when brackets and arch wires  become loose

If a wire or band breaks, don’t be scared! It can happen to anyone at any time during the orthodontic treatment. If the wire irritates you, gently push the irritating wire out of the way with cotton. Place the wet cotton on the wire if discomfort still exists. If the wire is loose and rubs your cheek, apply dental wax or soft chewing gum over it, to avoid hurting your mouth further or swallowing it. However, contact your dentist via online Dental Consultation to assess the severity and further actions

  • Clean your aligners (if you wear them)

Once you remove the aligners, make sure you rinse them under running water before putting them back in your mouth. It is recommended to clean your aligners twice a day with soap and do not soak or scrub them in hot water and ensure to keep them away from direct sunlight. Rinse your mouth after every meal and brush and floss twice daily

  • Avoid Hard and sticky foods

Do not try to eat anything hard ‘and Sticky foods like nuts, popcorn, peanut butter, corn chips, caramel and whole raw fruit especially can break your brackets. If you are wearing metal braces these hard foods can crack your brackets. The best option would be to consume soft foods as advised by your dentist, or processed food which is easier to chew. Also, don’t forget to drink water as much as you can without ice

  • Quit smoking and chewing tobacco

In general, smoking is harmful to your oral health and can cause oral cancer. It has been observed that smoking can adversely affect the performance of orthodontic treatments. The nicotine content in tobacco may cause stains on the braces especially for those wearing clear aligners. In worst cases, smoking may even hinder the braces’ ability to align teeth.

If you are undergoing an orthodontic treatment, then tobacco chewing is not recommended at all, because tobacco can get stuck in the brackets and stain the teeth as well as the Invisalign or ceramic braces.

Most importantly, follow the orthodontist’s instructions properly. If you were prescribed to wear retainers or aligners, make sure you wear them for the recommended amount of time and follow the guidelines exactly as instructed.

These are general tips that you can ensure while staying at home to get the best out of your Orthodontic Treatment with Braces.

Call your dentist right away if you have any queries.

Our orthodontic team is available for Online Dental Consultation and we would be happy to answer any questions or discuss any issues you may have.

Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today!

Braces, Aligners and Orthodontics

With Braces – Bright and Beautiful Smile is No Longer a Dream!

After all, getting straighter teeth with the help of teeth braces isn’t exactly an experience most of us would really like to possess. Dental braces create healthy and beautiful smiles but convincing yourself to opt for it isn’t always going to be an easy or hassle-free decision to make.

A couple of decades ago, when you were to consider orthodontic braces for teeth straightening, you almost certainly imagine a mouth filled with metal brackets and teeth wires. But now, there are a lot of other options out there, depending on your orthodontic problems, needs, and your budget.

Here are the few latest type of braces for straightening teeth that are currently trending in the market which enhances the alignment of teeth.

There are mainly 5 different kinds of braces which include:

  1. Traditional Metal Braces
  2. Ceramic Braces
  3. Lingual Braces
  4. Invisible Braces
  5. Self-ligating Braces

Each type of braces is associated with a set of pros and cons, which must be taken into consideration before starting with the orthodontic treatment.

1. Traditional Metal Braces:

Traditional braces involve brackets and wires, usually made out of stainless steel, which is attached or bonded to the teeth, to permit desired tooth movement and their positioning can be altered as needed. This kind of braces are usually the most effective, least expensive and it is one of the foremost common types of braces used to date.

Pros of traditional braces:

  • This type of braces are the most economic one compare to other types of braces for teeth
  • Traditional metal braces can be used to correct all kinds of teeth alignment issues
  • They are rigid and strong

Cons of traditional braces:

  • They are the most noticeable sort of braces
  • Metal braces and wires can break or become too long, poking the jaw, gums, or cheek tissues
  • Proper oral hygiene and care are necessary and there are food and drink restrictions as well.

2. Ceramic Braces:

Ceramic braces are the most common alternative to traditional braces but the difference lies in the material used as this type of braces are made of tooth-colored ceramic. They are attached/bonded to the teeth to permit desired tooth movement and regular adjustments are necessary. They work effectively as metal braces but they are typically more expensive.

Pros of ceramic braces:

  • Ceramic braces are less noticeable than traditional metal braces
  • They are more aesthetic compare to metal braces

Cons of ceramic braces:

  • They can easily get stained
  • Prone to Frequent breakages/de-bonding as compared to metal braces
  • Ceramic braces are more expensive than traditional metal braces

3. Lingual Braces:

Lingual braces have the same components as conventional braces but they are attached to the lingual or backside of the teeth instead of the front side and that’s why they are almost invisible. Lingual braces are the most uncomfortable type of braces compared to traditional braces as the tongue frequently comes in contact with the braces. Lingual braces can’t be used to treat all types of orthodontic problems, only a few simple corrections can be made.

Pros of lingual braces:

  • Lingual braces are almost invisible in appearance

Cons of lingual braces:

  • Lingual braces may give you a lisp and your speech may get affected as this kind of braces interfere with the movements of the tongue
  • Lingual braces are more expensive than both metal braces and ceramic braces

4. Invisible Braces/Aligners:

These are the most aesthetically pleasing, transparent, plastic form of teeth straighteners or teeth braces used to straighten teeth positions. Invisible braces do not involve brackets and wires but instead, they utilize a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth for a minimum of 22-24 hours a day.

Pros of invisible braces:

  • They are more appealing in appearance and virtually invisible
  • They can correct dental issues such as teeth spacing, crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, and crossbites
  • They are removable.
  • It’s easy to maintain oral hygiene as it’s free from fixed braces and wires
  • It does not poke, scratch or irritate your gums

Cons of invisible braces:

  • The aligners/ trays can become stained or damaged
  • Typically, invisible aligners are more expensive than traditional braces

5. Self-Ligating Braces:

Self-ligating braces are very similar in appearance to traditional metal braces but they utilize inbuilt shutter/clip rather than elastic bands to hold the wire to the brace in place. As a result, there is less friction on the braces and it is usually easier for an individual to maintain a good oral hygiene by maintaining the braces and the teeth clean. Self-Ligating braces are available in both metal and ceramic material.

Self-ligating braces are equally effective as traditional metal braces and may increase control over the appliance, leading to more precise tooth alignment. However, they are often more expensive than conventional braces.

Pros of Self-ligating braces:

  • No elastic bands, so easy to maintain dental hygiene, fewer chances of tooth decay and gum problems
  • Can be used to correct all teeth alignment problems
  • Rigid and strong

Cons of Self-ligating braces:

  • This type of braces is quite visible and noticeable
  • It’s expensive compared to another kind of braces

A Healthy and younger-looking smile is just one of the positive results the braces provide.

To know more about what type of braces you may need, visit our dentist’s team at Credence Dental for a full evaluation and a dental checkup to treat all kinds of orthodontic conditions with the help of braces.

Call us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment with our Braces Specialist

Open chat
Hello 👋
Can we help you?