How to Prevent Ceramic Braces From Staining
At Hawaiian Smiles Orthodontics, we are proud to offer a variety of treatment options that help patients of any age. Including adults. Our teeth’ position may shift as we age; fortunately, orthodontic treatment does not depend on the patient’s age, and it can help improve your appearance and self-esteem at any stage of your life. This specialized treatment helps improve the functionality of your dental structures and makes it easier to maintain good dental health.
If you are here because you have finally decided to start your orthodontic journey, then we want to say congratulations! The team at Hawaiian Smiles Orthodontics applauds you. You are taking the first step into your orthodontic journey towards a healthier smile, and overall better health says a great deal about you.
First, you must know that orthodontics takes a lot of dedication, consistency, and patience to get the perfect results we all look for in our smiles. But now that you know what to expect let’s talk about one of the most popular braces around; ceramic or clear braces. Ceramic braces are a modern version of the traditional metal braces we are all used to.
What Are Ceramic Braces?
Ceramic braces are similar to metal braces; they consist of clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets attached to the surface of your teeth with similarly colored wires and rubber bands, which provide more discretion.
Many people opt for ceramic braces because they’re less noticeable on your teeth than metal braces. This can be a huge advantage if you consider braces and don’t want to feel self-conscious about wearing them.
Now you may wonder what’s the point of getting ceramic braces if they are similar to metal braces. Besides giving you a more discrete look throughout your orthodontic treatment time, ceramic braces have other pros.
How Are Ceramic Braces Better Than Metal Braces?
Before starting your orthodontic treatment, you will need to talk to your orthodontist to learn if ceramic braces are suitable for your teeth based on your specific issues that require fixing. However, below are some of the great advantages of ceramic braces over traditional metal braces.
Less Noticeable
Ceramic brackets come in various colors and can be clear or tooth-colored. They’re available in various off-white hues that can be tailored to fit your teeth. The archwires that link the brackets come in various colors, including white. Ceramic braces are therefore less noticeable than metal braces.
Fewer Allergens
The most common allergic reaction encountered in dental offices is an allergy to nickel, which is one of the most common metals used by manufacturers in dental tools such as braces. Nickel-related contact dermatitis arises as a result of this. In orthodontics, various metallic alloys are necessary, the majority of which contain nickel. Stainless steel alloys, for example, can contain up to 8% nickel.
Suitable for Imaging Tests
Metal braces can interfere with MRI scans of the head and neck, so the staff needs to remove them before testing. Ceramic braces are MRI-compatible and do not require removal. However, if the ceramic brackets contain any metal components, such as stainless steel slots, these may need to be removed before imaging scans.
So, you are almost ready to make the final decision and go ahead and start your orthodontic journey with the use of ceramic braces, but you may still have many questions in mind. After all, you’ve heard that ceramic braces stain easily. Well, the truth is yes and no.
During your treatment time with braces, whatever type you decide to go with, you will need to pay extra attention to your oral hygiene habits and, in most cases, go above and beyond what you already do.
How to Take Care of Ceramic Braces?
Before we continue, there is one important point to remember. Your braces’ ceramic brackets will never stain because they are discoloration resistant. However, the clear elastic bands we use to connect the archwire to your brackets might discolor, making your braces more noticeable.
The easiest approach to avoid discoloration is to avoid it entirely, which begins with your diet. Dark, darkly pigmented foods and drinks stain clear braces, including coffee, wine, tea, and even tomato sauce. The dark colors in these foods can leach into the elastic band’s material, staining it. Avoiding these foods and drinks in the first place is the best method to prevent discoloration.
But aside from the diet restrictions, you must follow, here are other tips you can follow.
5 Tips for Taking Care of Ceramic Braces
While clear ceramic braces will help you feel more confident and secure during your orthodontic treatment by boosting your self-esteem, they require more care. Let’s take a look.
Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal
Brushing your teeth two or three times a day is typical, but with ceramic braces, you should brush after every meal to avoid stains. This good habit ensures that any food color, plaque, and bacteria are rinsed out of your mouth as soon as possible, leaving your teeth and braces clean and fresh. If you do this, you will have a lower chance of tooth decay during your orthodontic treatment.
Don’t Forget to Floss and Rinse
You’ll want to do everything you can to keep your teeth and ceramic braces looking nice, so floss after every meal and, if feasible, after snacks. Also, use mouthwash in the morning and night to clean every nook and cranny that you couldn’t get to with a toothbrush and floss. Most orthodontists recommend using a water pick to remove all of the food particles and plaque accumulated during the day.
Stop All Smoking
Smoking is harmful to your health for various reasons, but it also stains your ceramic braces, elastic ligatures, and teeth, giving everything an unpleasant yellow sheen. And these stains are notorious for becoming quite deep and difficult to remove. If you smoke and wish to obtain ceramic braces, you should quit smoking completely before getting them.
Don’t Use Whitening Toothpaste
While whitening toothpaste to keep your teeth and braces looking their best may be a good idea, this is not the case. Because toothpaste can’t reach behind ceramic braces, your teeth will have various shades when your orthodontist finally removes the braces.
Don’t Skip Your Scheduled Orthodontic Appointments
Remember that keeping track of your dental health and teeth appearance while your orthodontic treatment is as simple as not missing any of your sessions. You can get the adjustments and replacements you need to keep your smile looking great throughout your therapy.
Orthodontics Emergency in Kaneohe
Another thing to keep in mind is that it will be completely normal to suffer an orthodontics emergency in Kaneohe at some point during your orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic emergencies usually include loose brackets and poking wires, but don’t worry; this is just a part of wearing braces.
Here are some general tips you can use to care for your braces.
Soothing the Pain Related to Braces
A common complaint from patients wearing braces is that they experience some soreness and discomfort from the tightness of the wires or the chafing of loose wires inside their mouth. Ask your orthodontist about special wax that can help protect the inside of your mouth. You can also try a pain reliever like Orajel. If the pain gets severe, call your orthodontist right away.
How to Handle Damage to Your Braces
It is inevitable that at some point, the wear and tear of daily living are going to damage your braces. If one of your wires or brackets breaks, but there was no damage to the teeth themselves, don’t panic. There is no need to rush in for an emergency appointment. Also, avoid bending the wire or trying to pull it out. That will only cause more damage. Instead, just cover any sharp edges with wax and make an appointment to see your orthodontist as soon as possible.
Always Be Prepared
If you are on the go all the time, it can be difficult to always make time to brush and floss and take care of your mouth properly. If you are prepared for any situation, however, you will never have to worry about not being able to practice good oral hygiene again. Just make yourself a little kit complete with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and wax that you can carry with you all the time.
That’s it! You are ready to come in for your consultation with Dr. Nayak and his team. Schedule your appointment with Hawaiian Smiles Orthodontics today; you won’t regret deciding to start your journey towards your perfect and healthy smile with us by your side.
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