According to Humana, over four million people in the United States wear braces. Although the procedure is quite common, there are several myths concerning braces. Below is a list of the top four misconceptions and the actual truths you need to know about braces.
Braces Aren't Attractive and Are Extremely Embarrassing to Wear
With advances in technology, children and adults have more options when it comes to braces. Many sets are clear instead of the traditional silver, making them less noticeable. There are even braces that can be affixed to the back of your teeth, where they won't be visible at all. Of course, if you want to have a little fun with your braces, you can choose colored rubber bands to jazz things up.
Braces Have to Be Worn for a Minimum of Two Years
The thought that braces have to be worn for a minimum of two years is completely false. The length of time a person wears braces is specific to that individual and how complex his or her case is. There are plenty of patients who only end up needing braces for a few months. Your orthodontist will be able to give you a time estimate based on the amount of work your teeth require.
Braces Are Painful and Must Be Tight in Order to Work
When braces were first made, the wires were hard and did cause quite a bit of discomfort to the wearer. Today, however, the braces are made with a more flexible wire that is much more friendly. All wearers of braces may experience slight pain when the braces are first placed on the teeth, but this won't last long and soon you won't have any pain at all. It is also not true that the braces have to be tight in order to be effective. While your braces will need to be adjusted and tightened from time to time, this will be done slowly. Tightening them too fast hurts and can actually cause damage to the bone.
Once I Get My Wisdom Teeth, I'll Need a New Set of Braces
A big misconception about wisdom teeth is that they push all of your other teeth forward, causing them to once again come out of alignment. This is not true. Your teeth can shift forward at any time, and it often has nothing to do with the eruption of your wisdom teeth. Seeing your dentist on a regular basis is a great way to keep an eye on the straightness of your teeth after the braces come off.
Share29 September 2016
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.