Written by Menswear Style in Beauty on the 9th July 2020

Wearing braces used to be something that was reserved for the nerdy kid in school, but these days, adult braces are becoming more and more popular as people want to straighten and improve the look of their teeth. And, wearing braces isn’t just beneficial from an aesthetic point of view; it can also help to improve your dental hygiene by making it easier to keep your teeth clean and floss in between them. If your teeth aren’t perfectly straight and you would like them to be, there are plenty of braces options available for you to consider according to Invisalign Edinburgh. Here’s how to get the most out of wearing braces and get the results that you want.

Choose the Right Braces for You 

If you’ve decided that you want braces, check what a local dentist advises. Go to an orthodontist clinic or a dentist that specialises in straightening teeth. Your own dentist might offer it as a service, or they may be able to recommend somebody in the area who does. The aim of the consultation is to figure out the best type of braces for your needs, whether or not you are going to need to have any teeth removed for the braces to work as they should, and how long you will need the braces on for. Remember that the result is up to you; for example, you might be able to have extra work to fix an overbite, but if you only want straight teeth, you don’t need to. You can learn more about the different types of braces on offer by visiting The Dental Suite. On their website, you will find numerous pages that discuss the options available. This local dentist also has a handy test online called 'The Straight Teeth Test' which will help you to see the treatment plan that would suit you. This professional Invisalign dentist in Greenbelt says that the recommended treatment will depend on the severity of the misalignment. Mild cases would usually only require clear aligners while extreme ones would need traditional braces.

Attend Your Appointments 

Once you have gotten the braces fitted, you should keep up with regular appointments. This is because as you wear the braces, your teeth will move and change, and it may be necessary to tighten traditional wire braces or provide you with a new invisible brace in order to continue straightening your teeth correctly. Ideally, you should attend appointments every 6-8 weeks, but your dentist will let you know whether you will need to attend less often or more frequently.  

Keep Your Teeth Clean 

Wearing braces - particularly traditional wire braces - can make it easier for food to get stuck in your teeth, so there’s never been a more important time to keep up your good dental hygiene routine. When you are wearing braces, you can still visit your dental hygienist for a professional clean, and you should continue to do this every six months. You should also invest in an electric toothbrush, and some dental floss picks at home that are easier to use with braces compared to traditional floss. You might also find that you need to brush your teeth a little more often than twice a day when you’re wearing braces. Drink water regularly too, since this will help to flush out any food particles.

Avoid Hard Foods 

When you first get your braces put on, and when they get tightened, it can be a little painful, so chances are you won’t want to be eating crunchy foods. But as time goes on and you get used to having the braces in your mouth, it gets easier. However, some foods can be notorious for breaking braces and this can not only be painful if you have a wire brace that snaps and stabs you in the mouth, but it can also mean that you end up having to wait longer for your desired result. Stick to softer foods that are easy to eat and avoid anything like nuts or corn on the cob that can be riskier to eat with braces on.  

Wear Your Retainer 

Finally, once your braces have been taken off and you’ve got lovely straight teeth, you will want to keep them that way. Sadly, teeth can often move back to their natural position after the braces are removed and are no longer holding them in place, so you will be provided with retainers to wear. When your braces first come off, you should wear your retainers as often as possible for around one week; ideally, you should only take them out when you need to eat or drink. After that, you will usually be fine with wearing your retainers during sleep. They are usually a comfortable plastic mould that fits over your teeth during the night and they can also help you deal with any other problems such as grinding your teeth in your sleep. Most people will have to wear retainers every night for at least a few years or even for the rest of their life if they want their straight teeth to remain that way.

With tips such as Wear Your Retainer, Avoid Hard Foods, Keep Your Teeth Clean, and Choose the Right Braces for You, here's How to Get the Best Results from Wearing Braces.