4 Ways to Limit How Much Sugar You Eat with Braces

July 3, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

The process of getting a straighter smile you’ll be proud of includes going through orthodontic treatment. Braces are still the most common method of straightening teeth and setting yourself up for good long-term oral health. This treatment method takes plenty of getting used to, but the results will be far more than worth it. One of the adjustments you’ll need to make during your treatment is cutting back on sugar.

Reasons to Avoid Sugar with Braces

Besides the fact that sugar is something you should always do your best to avoid, you have an increased chance of experiencing tooth decay when you have braces. This is because food can more easily become trapped around the brackets, making it harder to clean off with brushing. Having sugary food become stuck in your braces causes plaque to build up, which will lead to the formation of cavities.

Another problem people often experience if they don’t take good care of their teeth while they have braces is discoloration of their teeth enamel. If you aren’t keeping with cleaning and choose sugary foods, you can end up with darker spots around your braces when they are removed.

1. Cut Out Hard Candy

One type of food you should be avoiding for multiple reasons is hard candy. Not only can the tough texture of hard candy possibly damage your braces, but the sugary residue can hide underneath the archwire and brackets. You should also avoid sugary cereals for the same reasons.

2. Reserve Desserts for Special Occasions

When it comes to typical dessert foods like cookies, ice cream, and cakes, you should cut back on how often you eat these foods. The best practice is to reserve these sorts of foods for special occasions, such as if you are at a wedding or birthday celebration. If you still feel like you need to appease your sweet tooth, you can schedule a “cheat day” one day a week where you can have a dessert to satisfy your craving.

3. Avoid White Bread

One type of food many people don’t think of as being sugary is starchy white bread. While this may not exactly be a dessert food, white bread processes in your body the same way sugar does. The same goes for your teeth. White bread processes into sugar in the mouth, which quickly leads to tooth decay. In fact, the texture and contents of white bread can be even worse for your teeth than cane sugar.

4. Read Food Labels Carefully

It can be surprising just how much sugar gets packed into foods that seem like they are meant for meals rather than desserts. This is especially true in America, where sugar is a common ingredient in foods that are marketed as being “savory.” Many sauces like ketchup and barbeque sauce can have surprisingly high levels of sugar. When you go shopping at the store, be sure to read each label and look for the sugar content.

If you have any questions or concerns about life with braces, feel free to contact Austin Orthodontics.

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Do I Need Braces?

May 15, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

By now, you’ve no doubt heard about braces as a way of getting a better smile. While getting a better smile sounds fantastic, it is also a significant investment when it comes to your time, effort, and finances. So you may be wondering, “Do I need braces?”

A common misconception is that braces only serve the purpose of straightening your teeth, but there are plenty of reasons people get braces other than just fixing crookedness. When you complete your orthodontic treatment, your teeth will be optimally positioned to keep your smile both looking better than ever and healthy for as long as possible. Here are some signs braces could be right for you.

You Have Crooked Teeth

Starting with a rather obvious reason, braces are for you if you want to have a straight smile you are proud to show off. Crooked teeth are often pretty easy to see, making the results of a treatment with braces pretty dramatic. But what exactly is crookedness? Crowding is a major culprit of crooked teeth, causing teeth to appear jagged and stick out in awkward places. Excess gaps result in crookedness as well.

Crowding can also cause some teeth to stick out more, putting too much pressure on just one or two teeth when you bite down, and leading to wear. By fixing crowding, your bite can evenly put pressure on all of your teeth.

You Don’t Bite Down Correctly

Braces can also fix instances of misaligned bites. Normally, your upper jaw rests a little bit over your lower teeth, allowing the bottom of your lower teeth to still show. If your jaw sits too far forward and starts to perhaps even hit your lower gums, or if you can’t fully bite down without forcing your upper jaw forward, you could benefit from braces. Having a set of braces with elastic bands can fix instances of underbites and overbites, allowing your bite to feel smooth and natural.

Frequent Cavities

When teeth are crooked, it makes it far easier for food to get trapped in your mouth. This leads to decay over time, even if you keep up with recommended oral hygiene habits. Even if your smile looks perfectly straight, getting braces can be beneficial in spacing your teeth in a way that allows you to actually reach all parts of your teeth.

To really answer the question of whether or not you need braces, you should schedule your free consultation with our team of orthodontic specialists today. We can get a complete look at your teeth and find out if there are any issues you aren’t aware of. If you experience frequent jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, or can’t seem to bite or speak comfortably, these problems could be solved with braces. Schedule an appointment at Austin Orthodontics today!

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How Do Metal Braces Work?

April 23, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

Out of all of the different types of orthodontic treatment, none is as well-known or widely used as traditional metal braces. This type of treatment has been used for decades, and is still the most effective way to take care of tough corrections in tooth alignment.

How Metal Braces Work

With metal braces, brackets and wires are placed on and around your teeth to create targeted points of pressure. Throughout the course of your treatment, this pressure will move your teeth in specific directions, correcting the alignment of your teeth. Slowly adjusting the pressure over time allows your teeth to acclimate to their new positions and helps to reduce discomfort.

Parts of Metal Braces

To better understand just how your braces are able to give you a straighter, healthier smile, it helps to take a look at each part of metal braces.

  • Brackets: Acting as the base for your braces, these small metal pieces are the most visible parts of metal braces. Brackets are adhered to the middle of the front surface of each tooth using a special dental bonding agent. With self-ligating braces, which is what we use at Austin Orthodontics, each bracket has a little door or gate that holds the archwire in place, eliminating the need for elastic bands around the brackets.
  • Archwire: The archwire connects to each bracket and gets adjusted or replaced as you progress to the next phase in your orthodontic treatment. The slight tension in this wire creates the pressure needed to straighten the teeth.
  • Elastics: Not every set of braces will use this type of elastic band, but they are quite common. Elastic bands run from the upper jaw to the lower jaw and create pressure to fix jaw alignment issues such as overbites and underbites. These elastics are replaced fairly frequently by the patient during the course of their treatment.

Clear Braces

Clear, or ceramic braces, work the same way as metal braces, but are different in a couple respects. Instead of silver brackets, which are quite noticeable, these braces have ceramic brackets that blend in with your teeth. Wires are often lighter in color as well, making your treatment less visible, but not any less effective. This treatment option works great for teens and adults who are self-conscious about having braces but need the treatment power they provide.

Are Metal Braces Right for You or Your Child?

With all of these parts working together, metal braces are a very effective way to get a straight smile, and with smaller brackets and updated technology, they are more comfortable than ever. Or for a less visible treatment, ceramic braces are also a great option. To learn more about metal braces, clear braces, or other treatments available, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Briggs and his team at Austin Orthodontics.

 

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