Do Braces Weaken Teeth?

Do Braces Weaken Teeth? Yes. However, only for a short time. Let’s get right to it. Weakening the tissues that hold the tooth in its place is the only way to allow it to move. In this sense, braces, in contrast to weakening the teeth, weaken the tissues around the teeth, so that tooth movement is possible.

By visiting your orthodontist at regular intervals, he will carefully monitor the movement, making adjustments as needed. The “retention” period begins after the desired result is obtained. You will be given a retainer. You gradually regain strength to the weakened tissues around your teeth during this time. This allows the tooth to grow into its new position. In addition, you still have strong and healthy tissues as you did before getting braces.

 

 

Valuable Benefits

• Repairing your bite to make chewing food easier
• Straightening teeth so that you can talk properly
• Making it easier to brush and floss your teeth
• Preventing abnormal wear and tear on your teeth
• Improving your self-confidence
• Improving your facial appearance
• Preventing gingivitis
• Avoiding problems from a temporomandibular joint disorder

What Are the Effects of Braces?

Each person must have a thorough evaluation from an orthodontist to determine what type of treatment is best for certain types of malocclusions. The most appropriate time for orthodontic treatment is during early adolescence, but today, adults are also visiting orthodontists because there are new ways to straighten teeth. With a visual examination and medical images, an orthodontist can determine if you have mild, moderate or severe malocclusions.

If you have mild malocclusions, then you are able to wear clear plastic aligners to repair your teeth, and the treatment time lasts from six months to one year. However, for severe malocclusions, you will need some type of braces, but you can wear modern types that are difficult for others to see. For moderate malocclusions, the orthodontist might recommend braces or aligners, depending on your age and the types of orthodontic problems.

How Are Braces Designed for Your Teeth?

Braces and aligners are made using medical images, molds, and computer software. Aligners are not appropriate for young children, but teenagers and adults can wear items. If you must wear aligners, then you will use the items for most of the day or night. You should remove the aligners while chewing food, drinking beverages, and performing oral health care.

An orthodontist will want you to wear the aligners for 23 hours a day and night, but there is an adjustment time for wearing the devices. During the adjustment period, you will have excessive salivation, and you may feel pressure on your teeth. Every two weeks, you will change to a new set of aligners that are made to change the position of your teeth with gentle pressure.

Proper Oral Hygiene Protects Your Teeth and Gums

With braces, you might wonder will my teeth deteriorate from the brackets and wires of the orthodontic devices. This is a concern because you might wear your braces for as long as four years. In many cases, the surface of each tooth is covered with ceramic or metal brackets, making it difficult to keep your teeth clean. In addition, there are multiple wires wrapped around each tooth, and you might have problems with flossing.

Without the proper oral health care, you can develop cavities in your teeth, and you may develop gingivitis in your gums. A side effect of the decay is having bad breath, and the bacteria from the gingivitis or cavities can affect your body in other ways.

 

 

Use an Oral Irrigator

It is important to understand how to brush or floss your teeth while you are wearing braces, and you should also continue to visit your orthodontist for routine professional cleaning. In addition to spending more time brushing and flossing your teeth, experts recommend using an oral irrigator. This small machine has a tank for holding clean water, and after you fill it, you will use its wand that emits highly pressurized water over your teeth and gums. This device is an easy way to keep your mouth clean so that you don’t experience any problems from halitosis, gingivitis or cavities.

What Are the Effects of Braces on Your Teeth, Bones and Soft Oral Tissues?

There are multiple effects of braces on your soft oral tissues, bones, and teeth. Braces are designed for applying pressure on the surfaces or roots of your teeth, and this can lead to discomfort in your jaw, face or neck. You may also experience tenderness in your soft oral tissues from wearing braces, and the discomfort will recur when the wires are tightened every few weeks. The pain from braces can radiate through your head and neck, causing headaches or a stiff neck. Inside your mouth, your tongue might become irritated from wearing the braces, and the excess salivation can become embarrassing. You should adjust to the braces within a few days, but if you don’t, then visit your orthodontist for an adjustment.

How Do Braces Actually Work?

Prevent Discomfort with These Methods

If you are having problems with braces, then you will probably ask yourself, brace worth it? However, having crooked teeth can lead to an assortment of health issues in the future, and you might live to be 100 years old, so it is worth it to cope with the problems from orthodontic treatment for a few days while you are adjusting to the items. Your orthodontist will offer advice on coping with the discomfort from braces, including:

• Eating soft foods such as mashed potatoes, applesauce or soup
• Applying ice packs to your face
• Taking oral medication for pain
• Drinking cold water to soothe your gums and tongue
• Using orthodontic wax on your soft oral tissues
• Applying liquid numbing medications to your gums

Rather than worrying about the discomfort from braces or aligners, you should be more concerned about the common question if will my teeth deteriorate without orthodontic treatment? Without orthodontic care, your teeth may continue to shift into bad positions, making it more difficult to remove food particles and bacteria. As a result, you can have a mouthful of cavities along with a serious periodontal disease. You might feel embarrassed by your teeth, making you shy, and this can lead to mental health issues from loneliness or depression.

Contact Our Orthodontist in Minnesota

When you live in Minnesota, you can make an appointment with Dr. Michael McDermott for an orthodontic evaluation. At McDermott Orthodontics, you can learn more about different types of orthodontic treatments, including ceramic, self-ligating or traditional braces. You can make an appointment at one of these orthodontic facilities:

• Delano – call 763-972-4444
• Pequot Lakes – call 218-568-5600
• Brainerd – call 218-829-1630
• Baxter – call 218-829-1630

Our orthodontist has over 15 years of experience, and he offers free consultations for his patients.

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Do Braces Weaken Teeth?

McDermott Orthodontist
708 Elm Ave. E.
Delano, MN
55328
TEL: 763-972-4444