As many have discovered, straightening one’s teeth not only
helps to improve oral health, but it also greatly improves one’s smile,
possibly providing confidence in their smile they never thought they could
have. Braces can be worn during any time of your life, with roughly one quarter
of orthodontic patients being adults, as per the Seton Hill University Center
for Orthodontics.
With that being said, bettering one’s smile doesn’t have to
end with braces. When braces officially come off, patients have more options
for further improving their smile, such as wearing retainers, teeth whitening, as
well as teeth reshaping. If you would like to look into more ways to improve
your smile, you should consider whether any of the following treatments would
work for you.
Wearing Retainers
When your braces come off, the aftercare is just as
important as the braces themselves, as the now straightened teeth need to be stabilized
via custom-made retainers. Made with metal wire and plastic, these appliances
are often removeable, but they may also be fixed in place. In the first six
months following the removal of your braces, you may need to wear them all the time.
After the first six months, however, you may only have to wear the retainers at
night. Remember to follow your orthodontist's or dentist's instructions for
wearing retainers to get their full benefit as well as that of your former braces.
Teeth Whitening
Throughout the course of one’s life, the teeth can receive
considerable stains after being exposed to certain drinks and foods, such as tomato
sauce, tea, and coffee. A fairly common solution for this is getting your teeth
whitened, preferably in your dentist’s office to ensure it’s done properly and
professionally.
Teeth whitening typically involves applying peroxide-based
gel onto the teeth, removing deep surface staining and making them between five
and seven times brighter. While whitening will work well for yellow teeth, it
may not work for grayed or brown teeth, fillings, caps, crowns, or veneers.
Additionally, you can help yourself avoid stains in the future by brushing your
teeth twice per day using a teeth-whitening toothpaste, flossing once daily, and
avoiding foods known for staining teeth.
Contouring and
Reshaping
Another option to pursue after braces is teeth reshaping,
especially if you want to make slight alterations to other parts of your smile.
Dental contouring and teeth reshaping are cosmetic procedures that can alter
the teeth’s length, position, and shape in order to fix slight imperfections, including
overlapping, slightly crooked, chipped, misshapen, or especially-pointed teeth.
Your dental professional will inform you which procedure can most improve your
smile, even sometimes combining them, and perform X-rays to see if you have enough
bone support for either or both procedures.
Want to make sure you have the perfect smile but not pay
full price for it? Consider signing up for the Wellness Dental Plan. Our New
Hampshire discount dental plan
can help individuals, families, or business owners save
as much as 20 percent off their dental bills. For more information, click here.
Copyright: serrnovik
/ 123RF Stock Photo
