Orthodontic care is incredibly rewarding, and the results can last a lifetime. While we will do everything we can in-office to give you a gorgeous, functional smile, we can’t do it without you! Here are some tips from Buttram Orthodontics to help you get the most out of your orthodontic treatment!
Maintain Good Oral Health
Unclean mouths can breed bacteria and plaque that can quickly develop into tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions can cause pain, infections, and even tooth loss! No matter your braces treatment, maintaining oral health is crucial to having a pleasant experience and achieving the best possible results.
Two easy ways to upkeep your oral health are to brush and floss twice a day and to attend your regular dental cleanings. Both keep your teeth squeaky clean, and the dental visits will allow your dentist to find and treat issues before they can cause damage to your smile!
Even if oral health complications do not affect your final result, they could delay, extend, or make treatment unnecessarily uncomfortable.
Wear Your Retainer!
When active treatment ends, Dr. Buttram will give you a custom retainer to retain your teeth in place while the mouth settles. Not wearing your retainer allows your teeth to move and undo all your hard work! If you don’t wear it as prescribed, you risk needing retreatment!
Fixed Braces
Fixed braces, like our metal and clear braces, are bonded to your teeth, meaning that only Dr. Buttram can remove your braces when your active treatment has concluded. You cannot remove them at home, so you must make the following temporary lifestyle changes until they are removed.
Follow your diet!
Your braces, though durable, are still breakable if not adequately taken care of. An essential part of your braces maintenance is to follow the diet given to you by Dr. Buttram! You want to avoid too hard food because it can cause your braces to detach from your teeth and break your wires, making your braces uncomfortable and annoying until fixed. Unsuitable food can also make your braces challenging to clean, increasing your risk of oral health issues.
Stick to soft food to keep your braces in the best condition.
Attend your adjustment appointments on time!
We use the wire attached to your braces to move your teeth. We do this by adjusting the wire every few weeks. For the quickest results, attend your adjustment appointments on time, every time! These sessions also allow Dr. Buttram to check the condition of your braces and monitor your progress to ensure your teeth go in the right direction. They are also a great time to ask him any questions that pop up during your care!
Clear Aligners Specifics
At Buttram Orthodontics, we proudly use Invisalign clear aligners! Invisalign creates customized, transparent, removable trays that straighten your alignment without requiring you to sacrifice your favorite snacks or change your oral hygiene routine. Because they differ from our fixed braces options, we have slightly different advice to help you get the most out of your care!
Don’t neglect to wear them!
Invisalign clear aligners use top-of-the-line technology for comfort and style, but that fantastic technology only works if you wear them! You should wear your trays for twenty-two hours a day and only take them out to eat and perform oral hygiene. Forgetting or neglecting to wear them can prolong your overall treatment time and give your teeth space and time to regress (shift backward).
Clean them daily!
When you perform your oral hygiene routine, you should clean your aligners too! Clear aligners can have the same harmful bacteria as your teeth and gums, generating the same oral health problems! Dirty trays also develop a foul taste and smell, which is not encouraging and inviting to wear for hours at a time. Cleaning your aligners takes only a few minutes a day, and it can make your treatment so much more pleasant!
Follow Dr. Buttram’s instructions closely because improper care can warp and scratch your aligners, which could make them uncomfortable or unwearable.
Stay on schedule!
Clear aligners do not have wires to adjust the way braces do; once made, we can not tweak them every few weeks to move your teeth. Instead, Invisalign uses a series of trays, each slightly different than the last, to encourage teeth movement. Each set is worn for one to two weeks before you advance to the next. Follow the schedule that Dr. Buttram has carefully designed for you. We promise that he has created the safest and quickest treatment program possible! Any attempts to speed up the process (skipping trays or switching early) will only have the opposite effect.
Maintain your trays!
Invisalign clear aligners are low profile for comfort and subtly. Unfortunately, that can also make them easy to lose or break. Always place your trays in their protective carrying case when you are not wearing your trays! The case makes them easier to keep up with and safeguards them from physical harm, such as being stepped on or chewed up by a pet.
If you ever find yourself with broken or lost trays, don’t panic—they can always be replaced! In the meantime, you should wear your previous set to prevent regression.
Visit Buttram Orthodontics!
When you become a Buttram Orthodontics patient, you already get the most out of your in-office experience! Dr. Buttram and his team are knowledgeable and welcoming so that you can be confident and comfortable throughout your entire experience.
To begin your life-changing orthodontic journey, follow us on Instagram to learn more about us and contact us to schedule your free consultation with our Panama City office today!
