Nearly 75% of all children and teens will need braces in their lifetime. Braces are necessary for many different reasons. The teeth may be crooked or positioned too far forward or backward, with too much space between them and more.
Many different braces are available. The most common are fixed braces (train tracks), twin block braces, or Invisalign braces. You may need to combine these braces or just one, depending on your condition and treatment.
Braces are sometimes necessary because your teeth can cause damage to your mouth and your gums. Braces are usually used for cosmetic purposes. Braces can help you to feel more confident and happy in the end. You may be entitled to free dental care depending on whether you fall into one of the categories. By the end of this post, you should have decided whether or not to get braces and know more about how braces work.
My teeth have been a source of insecurity for me all my life. My ‘overbite,’ or misalignment of the upper and lower jaws and teeth, was a problem.
Overbites can cause more than cosmetic problems. Overbites may cause speech problems, jaw pain, and other health issues. There are many ways to treat this condition, depending on severity. I was prescribed ‘twin-block braces’.
The twin blocks are two large blocks that you place in your mouth. The removable braces are to be worn at all times except for sports and eating. They were worse than fixed braces because they caused me mouth sores, got dirty quickly, and affected my speech. Many people do not wear braces as often as they should. You can take them out if you need to, but I recommend wearing them as much as you can. The more you wear them, the faster you will be able to remove them. I wore my twin blocks as much as I could, even though I had mine for longer.
The twin blocks were very easy to get dirty and smelly. Your dentist may recommend that you try eating while wearing braces as you progress through treatment. To keep them clean, I had to brush my braces separately and soak them in mouthwash every day. The more I spoke with them, the easier it became. By the end, I could talk normally. It’s important to persist.
No, I’m not trying to scare anyone who might be considering twin blocks. But they can cause a lot of problems. I still think that twin blocks are the fastest way to eliminate an overbite. The end result is definitely worth it. They are great, and I recommend them to everyone who needs them.
After my overbite had been corrected, I was given the most common fixed “train-track” braces. These braces were a lot more comfortable than twin-block braces, but they also had their own set of issues. The process of putting them on was a little strange, but there was no pain. They clean your teeth and then apply glue to each bracket. Then they attach a wire and finally tie the color bands. YouTube has videos that show how to do it if you’re nervous. It felt weird at first to have a piece of metal in my mouth. I couldn’t describe the feeling. Others say that it’s like having sweet corn stuck between your teeth. Overall, it wasn’t a bad experience for me. I did not feel any pain immediately, unlike most people. It wasn’t until 3 to 4 hours after the surgery that I started feeling anything. It can be painful, but it is manageable. The only problem is that it makes it difficult to eat. You’ll probably need to eat softer foods that do not require much chewing. You can also take pain relievers. It hurts every time I change my braces, but it’s always less painful than the first. The pain is lessening every time. You won’t feel the braces anymore after a few weeks. Pain usually lasts only a few hours or even days.
You should also avoid eating certain foods in case your braces break. Also, be cautious when playing sports, as bands and brackets are prone to snapping. You should avoid chewy food (especially sweets), foods that you need to bite into, such as apples and corn on a cob, sticky and crunchy foods, like caramel and gum, and foods that are hard (like ice and certain types of crisps).
Don’t be concerned if you break your brace. It’s nothing to worry about. It can, however, delay your treatment. To fix the problem, you will need to call your orthodontist for an urgent appointment. It is better to fix it as soon as possible. It’s not a big deal if you break your braces.
Braces are worth the pain. I’ve seen such a difference in my teeth. It is a long road, and it is easy to give up, but if you are going to feel more confident and proud of your smile, then it can’t be all bad. Braces may seem frightening because of all the bad things that I’ve mentioned, but in reality, they’re not as bad as people think. Some people never even have to deal with these problems. If you decide not to get braces, that’s fine too. Crooked teeth are nothing to be upset about. If you have the option to get braces, then I’d say go for it.