Tips For Adults With Braces

About half of the population has irregular, crooked, or misaligned teeth, according to medical statistics. Fortunately, dental advances, particularly in the field of orthodontics, have made it possible to treat teeth with irregularities, which is generally not a difficult process.

The traditional method of straightening irregular teeth involved removable plates with ugly-looking steel wires, which was always a lengthy, painful, and compromised procedure. But now we have more advanced forms of braces like Invisalign or even traditional braces made with advanced techniques.

Most adults wear braces for reasons like crooked teeth, misalignment, crowding, uneven bite, mouth size, jaw and teeth difference, etc. Orthodontic or teeth straightening solutions like aligners is something that is suited for both kids and adults depending on their tooth condition. 

So, let us give you a brief explanation of everything related to adult teeth straightening devices and tips to make them more effective!

How many types of adult braces are there?

Well, the type and duration of your teeth straightening devices of yours solely depend on the condition of your teeth. But here are the most common braces that dentists recommend to adults: 

• Metal braces: When someone says “braces,” they usually think of stainless steel brackets and wires attached with rubbers to the teeth. Patients can customize their wires and brackets with a variety of colors as well.
• Removable aligners: These are also known as clear aligners, you can wear them throughout the day or even at night. Additionally, you can remove them during meals or special occasions, such as business meetings. A computer-generated set of aligners is created for you after your dentist takes an electronic replica of your teeth. Furthermore, every few weeks, you get a new set of aligners as your teeth move. There is barely any noticeable difference between the aligners and your natural teeth!
• Lingual brace: Lingual braces are attached behind your teeth and are almost indiscernible.
• Ceramic brace: Just like traditional braces, ceramic teeth straightening devices are glued to your teeth. Unlike metal brackets, ceramic brackets are tooth-colored, so they are less noticeable and most people prefer this after clear aligners.

Some tips for adults wearing braces

Here are some of the things which you can keep in mind while wearing the teeth-straightening device:

Take care of your brushing routine: Adults who have braces must follow a good oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, not just after meals and snacks. If you want to minimize plaque between teeth and the aligner device, you need to brush the gum line and below the brackets on each tooth.

Floss everyone: It’s time to make flossing a daily habit. If you have traditional wire braces flossing around it is much more difficult. It’s not enough to use traditional floss with that. However, you can use an orthodontic flosser to gently floss your teeth and remove the food particles. This prevents food from getting stuck between your teeth and causing cavities. Plus, flossing ensures healthy gums.

Take care of your eating habits: Be mindful of what you eat because it is crucial to maintaining teeth straightening devices. Braces can break if you eat certain foods or if rubber bands snap while wearing them. Anything chewy or hard can damage the brackets of the teeth straightening device. Gum, caramel, hard crackers, and popcorn, are some examples.

Avoid tobacco and smoking: Children and teenagers rarely have problems with this, but adults with braces should avoid tobacco products. You should always avoid smoking and tobacco products because they are bad for your teeth. Having braces, however, makes them particularly dangerous. Your brackets can become damaged by chewing tobacco products.

Use a good toothpaste: Make sure you choose a good toothpaste. For stronger teeth, choose toothpaste with fluoride. Getting rid of stains on your teeth can be as easy if you use fluoride toothpaste. While you have braces, you should avoid toothpaste with too many complex ingredients.

Lastly, if you face any problem with your teeth straightening device you must visit your dentist as soon as possible to avoid any major complications.