Ways You Can Help Boost Your Orthodontic Treatment
If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re on dental braces or thinking about having it for specific reasons. Orthodontic treatment or the use of braces and other tools to correct the alignment of one’s jaw and teeth is great. If done by a duly-licensed specialist, it will give you that toothpaste-commercial-model smile that you’ve always dreamed of.
But here’s the thing—many people who get braces do things that make it hard for their dentist to progress with their treatment. And because timelines are messed up because of these issues, they get frustrated. Below, we provide a quick guide of things you can do and not do to ensure that your orthodontic treatment stays on track.
- Don’t eat what you’re not supposed to. Hard, sticky and chewy food that can very well mess up your braces or cause your brackets to get detached are a no-no. Your dentist will give you a rundown of these and be sure to remember them. For reference, some include corn on the cob, gums, hard candy and nuts.
- Follow your appointment schedule. There’s a reason why your dentist schedules you to go back for a follow-up every few weeks—and no, it’s not just so he or she can make more money out of you. Trust us when we say there are enough patients out there. You need to go back so that proper adjustments can be made to your braces, so that the slow but sure repositioning of your teeth and/or jaw steadily progresses.
- Don’t chew on ice. We understand, it can be tempting at times, especially on a hot day. But it ruins your teeth. Don’t do this, even if you don’t have braces.
- Stop biting your nails. And while we’re on the subject of unwanted biting, please take note to stop biting your nails. They don’t just cause your teeth to shift, they also ruin your nails. Also, persistent nail biting is a clear sign of anxiety. You might want to check with a mental health professional or assess your thought patterns if you keep doing this.
- Use the brush we ask you to use. Dentists prescribe special brushes for those with braces. In case your dentist hasn’t explained to you, this is to help remove foreign objects that can get stuck between the brackets and your teeth, which will be hard to remove using a regular brush.
Always remember that dentists are always willing to listen and help their patients. If anything goes wrong, be sure to let us know right away and don’t wait for your next scheduled appointment, because by then the damage may have already caused significant drawback.
If you’ve got questions, feel free to drop us a line at (02) 354-5388 so we can set-up an appointment and assess your situation. Our clinic is located at the Ground Floor of Pacific Regency, 760 P. Ocampo St, Malate, Manila.
