As important as braces are, many patients can’t wait for them to come off so that they can eat all their favorite foods again and smile without worrying about attention-drawing brackets and wires. The key to a shorter orthodontic treatment is to take good care of your appliance; the less complications there are during the process, the faster it can be completed. If you want to have your braces in Columbus removed as soon as possible, try following these 5 helpful tips.
1. Make Sure Your Mouth Stays Clean
Brushing and flossing with braces can be tricky since there are more hard-to-reach surfaces than usual. Nevertheless, good oral hygiene is critical during any orthodontic process. If you develop a cavity or gum disease, your braces might need to be removed before you can receive treatment. Needless to say, taking an orthodontic device off before reinstalling it will significantly extend treatment time. Talk to your orthodontist in Columbus about proper brushing techniques to get rid of harmful plaque and food particles wherever they’re hiding.
2. Cut Solid Food Into Smaller Pieces
Biting into a raw carrot or apple can easily break your braces if you’re not careful. Such solid foods are much safer to eat once they’ve been cut or otherwise broken into smaller, more manageable pieces. This reduces the amount of pressure that’s exerted on your appliance while eating.
3. Avoid Putting Anything That Isn’t Food In Your Mouth
Maybe you bite your fingernails when you’re nervous, or perhaps you bite your pen tip at work without realizing it. These habits can easily lead to spending more time at the orthodontist’s office; not only could they damage your braces, but in some cases they could even push your teeth out of line, setting your treatment back.
4. Leave Your Braces Alone
It can be hard to ignore the bulky metal parts in your mouth, but it’s important not to mess with your braces while wearing them. Try not to play with the elastics or move the wire out of place; doing so could disrupt the treatment.
5. Be Careful What You Eat
There are several foods that your orthodontist will warn you to stay away from while you have braces. Generally, you want to stay away from anything hard that could damage the metal parts or anything sticky that could pull the brackets from your teeth. This includes popcorn, nuts, bubblegum, toffee, and caramels. You also need to be careful not to chew on ice cubes.
The average treatment time for traditional braces is usually around 18 to 24 months. By following these simple steps, you’ll make sure that your personal treatment doesn’t last any longer than it needs to; your straighter, healthier smile will be ready that much sooner as a result!
About the Author
Dr. Amin Mason is a board-certified orthodontic specialist and a proud member of the American Association of Orthodontists. His practice, the Polaris Orthodontic Center in Columbus, offers high quality braces along with other orthodontic treatments for patients of all ages. He’ll do everything he can to make sure the process is as quick and comfortable for you as possible. To schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (614) 781-6990.
