3 Important Reasons to Wear Your Retainer

Taking off your braces or finishing your series of Invisalign aligners isn’t the last step of your orthodontic treatment! The final leg of your journey towards a straighter, healthier smile is to wear your retainer. However, if you’re caught up in enjoying the freedoms you had to give up or modify during your treatment, you may be wondering just how necessary it is to wear this little oral appliance. It may be much more important that you imagine! Here are three big reasons why you need to wear your retainer once you achieve a straighter smile.  

Over the last two decades, clear braces have skyrocketed in popularity. After all, they achieved what patients previously thought was impossible: discreet orthodontic treatment. While there are plenty of benefits to consider, it’s important to remember that there are many pros of traditional braces. To learn a few, read on!

Interested in straightening your teeth but worried you’ll have to undergo orthodontic treatment for 2+ years? You’re not alone. In fact, many patients hesitate to commit because they are unsure of how long they will have to wear the metal brackets and wires. While the only way to find out for sure is by scheduling an appointment with a skilled orthodontist, read on to learn a few factors that will influence your treatment timeline with braces.

Your retainer may be small, but it plays a big role in preventing orthodontic relapse. That’s why you should commit to wearing it for a lifetime! Naturally, that requires some maintenance. If you’re unsure of exactly how to care for your retainer – don’t worry. Keep reading to learn four ways to preserve yours.

Modern-day braces are more effective and comfortable than ever before! Unfortunately, the brackets and wires can still cause irritation to the inside of your mouth if you’re not careful. Thankfully, managing mouth sores with braces is easy, and there are several steps you can take to keep them from developing in the first placed! Read on to learn more.

From crooked teeth to bite problems, braces can address a wide array of orthodontic issues. However, since the predominant age group is children and teens, many adults assume that the boat has sailed for them. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there are a few benefits that come with straightening your teeth as an adult! Keep reading to learn more about the perks of adult braces.

From backyard barbeques to picnics by the pool, summer is filled with lots of activities surrounding food. While the display of dishes and sides may be tempting, it’s important to abide by your orthodontist’s dietary restrictions if you have braces. After all, this precaution is put in place to prevent you from experiencing an anxiety-inducing (and potentially painful) injury from broken brackets or wires. With this in mind, here are a few summer foods to avoid with braces.

As a parent, you already know that raising children doesn’t come with an instruction book! That means it can be difficult to know exactly what your little one needs and when, especially when it comes to braces. Many parents are surprised to learn that experts recommend that children get an orthodontic checkup by the time they’re seven years old. While braces and other orthodontic treatments are typically associated with the teenage years, some children may benefit from starting treatment several years beforehand. In fact, in some cases, pediatric orthodontics is the best way to prevent serious complications and permanent damage in the future. Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t postpone your child’s orthodontic treatment if they need it!

Many people find flossing somewhat difficult or awkward if they don’t do it regularly. Wearing traditional braces can make flossing even more of a challenge! However, it’s more important than ever to practice this healthy habit during your orthodontic treatment. Flossing clears out all the plaque and bacteria that can accumulate under your braces. This lowers your risk of serious oral health issues and ensures your teeth stay healthy and strong as they’re being straightened. Here are five practical ways to make flossing with braces easier.

Did you know that orthodontic treatments like braces date all the way back to Ancient Egypt and Greece? It took centuries of changing and advancing for them to become the traditional metal braces we recognize today. But orthodontics didn’t stop evolving there! Orthodontists continued to develop treatments to be faster, more effective, and more comfortable. Today, you have several types of modern braces to choose from depending on your unique goals and needs!