Don’t worry if you missed out on having braces as a kid, forgot to wear your retainers, or started but never finished your treatment; our team at Elevation Orthodontics in East Nashville can help. Technology in orthodontics has come a long way in recent years, allowing for more efficient and pleasant treatment. Uncomfortable braces, headgear, and other unsightly orthodontic appliances are things of the past. In a relatively short amount of time, our state-of-the-art office in Nashville, TN, can help you achieve your goal of a more aesthetically pleasing smile or a more functional bite.
Signs That You May Need Adult Orthodontic Treatment
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Protruding teeth make it difficult to chew, eat, and talk normally.
- The premature loss of teeth as a result of excessive pressure in the mouth.
- Crooked or uneven teeth that are difficult to clean between.
- Cavities and gum disease, particularly in areas of missing or overcrowded teeth
- Bone loss around the teeth caused by periodontal disease or gingivitis
Please reach out to our Elevation Orthodontics team if you are experiencing any of these issues. Our practice caters exclusively to adults, which means that we have unmatched experience working with adult cases and fully comprehend your needs and desires when it comes to orthodontic treatment and the improvement of your smile.
Your Lifestyle With Braces
As an adult, making the decision to get braces is a big one. Wearing braces is a significant commitment, but it’s a life-changing decision that leads to a beautiful, confident smile. While the braces do their job, you’ll want to make sure that you can live your life as normally and stress-free as possible.
Foods To Avoid
When you have adult braces in Nashville, TN, it’s essential to be mindful of the foods you eat. While most foods are perfectly fine to continue eating as normal, there are a few that can cause some damage to your braces and should be prepared more carefully or just avoided altogether.
Here are some general guidelines to follow:
- Avoid hard foods: crunchy vegetables, hard candy, ice, etc. These can break or loosen your braces.
- Cut up tough meats: steak, chicken breast, pork chops, etc. These can loosen brackets or get caught in the wires.
- Be careful with sticky foods: caramel, gum, taffy, etc. These can cling to your braces and be difficult to remove.
- Steer clear of chewy foods: bagels, pizza crust, pretzels, etc. These can also loosen brackets and wires.
Generally, it’s best to stick to softer foods that are easy to chew and bite into. Think cooked vegetables, soft fruits, fish, rice, pasta, etc. With a little bit of care, attention, and proper dental hygiene, you’ll be able to enjoy most of your favorite foods while wearing braces!
Brushing And Flossing
When you have braces as an adult, it is vital to brush and floss correctly to avoid gum disease and other dental problems. If you don’t brush and floss properly, plaque and bacteria can build up on your teeth, gums, and braces, leading to inflammation, bleeding, and eventually tooth decay or gum disease in more serious cases.
To brush correctly with braces:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and be sure to angle the bristles towards the gum line.
- Use circular motions and gentle pressure to avoid irritating your gums.
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the inside surfaces where your brackets are bonded. You may need to use a toothpick or interdental brush to clean around your brackets and wires.
Flossing with braces can be a bit tricky, but it’s still important. First, use waxed dental floss to avoid the floss getting caught on your brackets. Then, gently insert the floss under your wires and slide it up and down between your teeth. Finally, be sure to floss around your braces and behind your back molars, where food and plaque can easily build up.
Home Remedies For Minor Braces Issues
If you experience any discomfort while wearing braces, there are some simple home remedies that can help solve discomfort or hold you over until you can come into our office for an appointment. For example, if your braces are rubbing against your gums and causing irritation, you can try rinsing your mouth with salt water. You can also try placing wax on the brackets that are causing the irritation. If you have a wire that is poking out and causing pain, you can bend it back into place, remove it, or cover it with wax until our team can fix it for you.
Home remedies can be very effective in managing minor braces issues, but if the problem persists, please reach out to us!