A straight smile is something many of us aspire to. Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing but it can also be better for your overall mouth health as straighter teeth can give you a better bite, make it easier to clean and floss and reduce jaw pain.
After spending time straightening your teeth, you’ll naturally be concerned with keeping your teeth in place after you stop wearing your braces. How can you do this easily? Will it be painful? Here are a few pointers to help you in this area.
Some movement after is natural
After you have had your braces removed, your teeth will be perfectly straight, but while the braces can move the teeth, they can’t move the ligaments which connect your teeth to the jaw bone – these ligaments become more elastic and stretch to accommodate the new position of your teeth while you wear braces. This is the reason why your teeth can move after your braces are removed. To prevent this, you should wear a retainer after your braces have been removed:
- Removable retainers: These should be worn to minimise any movement of your teeth and should be worn all the time except when eating for the first year after having your braces removed. After this, you can limit them to night time for 3-5 nights per week to keep your teeth in place. Remember that over time your retainers may become worn down or even break, and if you want them to remain effective you will need to replace them as they wear out.
- Fixed retainers: A fixed retainer is bonded to your teeth, but don’t worry – you’ll hardly know it’s there. It’s extremely discreet and can last for up to 3 years to help ensure your teeth don’t move anywhere they’re not supposed to. Ask us which retainer would be most suitable for you after you have had your braces removed.
Tooth removal or wisdom teeth
If your braces were worn during your teenage years and since then you have lost a tooth, or gained a few wisdom teeth, you might worry that your teeth with move in your mouth with these changes. As long as you continue to wear your retainer you shouldn’t see any huge changes, but if you are worried, talk to your dentist or orthodontist who can monitor this progress.
Interested in braces?
If you had braces as a teenager but weren’t as fastidious with your retainer as you should have been, or if you have always wanted a straighter smile but never had braces before, then why not consider braces now?
The traditional metal style isn’t the only option available to you – clear braces are actually the fastest growing area of orthodontics in Dublin, and no small wonder. These braces are practically invisible, pain free and work fast – patients see the results they want in just 6 months normally.
If you would like to find out more about clear braces, why not make an appointment with us and see just how easy it could be to improve your smile?
