Interesting Facts About Dental Braces

Posted on: 25 February 2022

Braces are orthodontic devices that dentists have used for a long time to solve dental issues such as crowded teeth, crooked teeth, or an over/underbite. Notably, people with severe dental problems can wear braces for several years, which means completely changing one's lifestyle. Therefore, you must familiarise yourself with as much information as possible regarding braces. This article highlights a few critical facts you might not know about dental braces.

Not All Candy is Bad

As mentioned earlier, some patients have to wear braces for several years to guarantee complete treatment. It can be rather frustrating, especially if you have a sweet tooth, because orthodontists discourage patients from eating candy with their braces. Thus, patients must learn to live without their favourite snacks. However, did you know that you can still enjoy candy with your braces? Most people are unaware of the fact primarily because they think all sweets affect braces. However, nothing could be further from the truth because certain types of candy are friendly to braces. Therefore, while you should avoid chewing gum, popcorn and caramels, you can eat soft cookies, peanut butter and molten chocolate without worrying about your braces. However, you must brush your teeth after eating candy.

There is More to Coloured Braces than Aesthetics

Coloured braces have become highly popular, especially among teens. The reason is that coloured braces look very different from plain models and make the orthodontic devices look less weird. However, there is much more to coloured braces than aesthetics, but most people do not know it. It means that you should look beyond the beauty of coloured braces when selecting one. For instance, if you occasionally drink coffee, you should stay away from light-coloured braces because they will develop stains over time. Similarly, if you want your teeth to appear brighter, dark-coloured braces are the best since they make your teeth look whiter. Therefore, you should keep such aspects in mind when choosing coloured braces.

Aligning Rather than Straightening

When you ask a patient why they want braces, most will tell you they want to straighten their teeth. While it is true, the primary purpose of dental braces is to align teeth. Adequately aligned teeth promote oral health and prevent future dental problems. For instance, chewing with perfectly aligned teeth eliminates the possibility of biting your cheeks or lips. Additionally, aligned pearly whites are easier to clean and floss; hence, they are less susceptible to decay and gum disease. Most importantly, braces promote the harmonious function of the teeth, muscles and temporomandibular joint.

For more information, reach out to a local dentist.

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