A smile can brighten a person’s day. That is why we have to take care of our oral health. When we were kids, we were constantly bombarded with reminders to brush our teeth three times a day. Our parents would also get mad when we ate too many sweets because it could wreak havoc on our teeth.
Some people are blessed with a naturally aligned set of teeth. For others, not so much. Crooked teeth can be due to several reasons. For one, they can be due to early loss of adult or baby teeth, gum disease, or jaw misalignment after a significant injury. Nonetheless, crooked teeth can affect a person’s eating habits and even his or her self-esteem.
Thankfully, some orthodontic treatments can help patients with tooth problems. You can avail of gold retainer wires, tooth braces, or Invisalign. You must consult an orthodontist first to determine which type of tooth alignment corrector will work best for you.
Retainers or braces?
Popular types of tooth aligners include braces and retainers. Between the two, the former is more expensive. You also have to wait a few years before taking them off. On the other hand, an orthodontist can recommend retainers if the tooth problem is minor.
Retainers can fix your tooth alignment issue if it only involves one or two teeth. Retainers can also fix tooth gaps or simple crooks. However, you will be required to wear one for a few years for better results. It is also not a good substitute for significant tooth problems like overbites and underbites, as well as multiple crooked teeth.
In such cases, you will be prescribed to wear braces instead. Unlike retainers, braces are stronger in terms of aligning your teeth. You can also choose from different colors and brace materials that suit your personality and taste. Adjustments can be painful, but the results after a few years of religiously wearing braces will be worth the pain and the hefty price tag.
What happens after removing your braces?
If you think that removing your braces is the end of your tooth alignment journey, you’re wrong. If you want to keep your teeth aligned well, you have to wear retainers. Orthodontists often recommend wearing one after braces removal. Like wearing braces, you also have to wear braces at all times.
Wearing retainers is not a way to torture you once again. Instead, it will help a lot in keeping your teeth in their intended position. Even if your period of wearing braces is over, it is essential to have good oral care so that your teeth won’t revert to its angular position.
Like how we take care of our bodies, we should also take care of our teeth. We should not take toothbrushing for granted. Also, make time to visit your dentist every six months to ensure proper oral health. Follow the dentist’s orders when it comes to proper oral care so that you will have a smile that can launch a thousand ships or something like that.
