3 Ways To Speed Up Your Braces Treatment
Braces are a fantastic way to improve your smile and fix any functional issues with your bite. However, like most people, you probably want to get them off sooner rather than later. While people with more severe malocclusions will have to have them on longer than those with minor issues, you can still shorten the timeframe with these tips.
1. Wear Your Rubber Bands
If your dentist wants you to start wearing rubber bands on braces hooks, you need to be diligent about wearing them. These bands are only supposed to be taken off for when you are brushing, flossing, or eating. You should even be wearing the rubber bands when you sleep. Rubber bands, or elastics, are typically used for one of the hardest and lengthiest parts of orthodontic treatment: the alignment phase. While brackets and wires help to move teeth, rubber bands are very important in aligning both upper and lower jaws when they come together.
Some people don't like rubber bands because they accidentally snap the gums. When putting them in, be sure your jaw is relaxed and somewhat closed so this isn't a problem. Some people inadvertently grind their teeth while wearing bands, again, try focusing on relaxing your jaws so that wearing them isn't a hassle. Also, if you are forgetting to put them in, start keeping stashes of elastics around your house, car, or office. Rubber bands are incredibly important for speeding up your braces treatment, so don't shirk this important step!
2. Eat the Right Foods
Sticky, chewy, hard foods are all no-nos when it comes to braces. Foods like caramels, nuts, popcorn, etc. not only get stuck in braces, but they can actually bend wires out of place. This means that your teeth are prevented from moving to their proper locations. In the worst case scenario, you can break brackets and wires with these foods. Usually, a broken wire isn't an emergency unless tissue was damaged. However, broken wires and brackets slow down your treatment. Make an appointment to get them repaired as soon as you can, should this happen. In the meantime, you can stop sharp wires or loose brackets from moving with dental wax.
3. Ask Your Dentist About a Micropulse Device or Osteoperforation
While there isn't a ton of research on the effectiveness of micropulse devices, some dental offices say that devices, like Acceledent, can reduce pain and speed up braces treatments. These devices are fitted around your braces like a tray and they cause small vibrations that help tooth and bone movement.
Another thing you can ask your dentist about is osteoperforation, or micro osteoperforation in orthodontics (MOPs). During a MOP procedure, your dentist can create micro perforations in your jaw bones. These perforations create an inflammatory response that's intended to accelerate healing and tooth movement.
Talk with your dentist for more information about how to speed up your treatment and how to take care of your braces. You can also go to sites like these.