Braces, Retainers, and Everything Else that you want to know about Orthodontics!

You've just heard the three words that many teens dread: "YOU NEED BRACES!"

Braces!

What now?

Don't stress, braces really aren't as bad as you may think; in fact, braces today come in a variety of styles and materials, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

WE ARE A NO HEADGEAR PRACTICE!

So you don't need to worry about that!
The one thing that teens just like you always want to know is "ow long will I need to wear braces?"
The amount of time it takes to improve your smile with braces depends on two key factors:

• What needs correction - the amount of treatment needed in order to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently; so, while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
• YOU! - your willingness to use the appliances (this usually means elastics) your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Your Braces, Your Way!

Braces are no longer the clunky chunks of metal that your parents wore in their senior pictures. In fact, many of today's braces are hardly even noticeable!
When it comes to braces, our practice offers a variety of types and styles to choose from, including:

1. Ceramic or clear braces
2. Invisible braces like Invisalign
3. Lingual braces on the inside of the teeth
4. Traditional metal braces

You can even personalize your braces by choosing the color of the ties that go around your brackets to hold the wires in place! Now is a great time to be wearing braces.

I'm so hungry, but what can I eat?

Eating with braces is another hot topic for many teens your age! You've probably heard from your parents, friends, and even your orthodontist, the long list of foods and beverages that you should avoid while wearing braces.

While you should listen to your orthodontist and avoid eating certain foods, it might help you to know that before long you will be able to eat all of the foods you enjoy.
Foods to avoid while wearing braces:

1. Chewy foods - bagels, licorice
2. Crunchy foods - popcorn, chips, ice
3. Sticky foods - caramel candies, chewing gum
4. Hard foods - nuts, hard candies
5. Foods that require biting into - corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat while wearing braces:

1. Dairy - soft cheese, pudding, milk based drinks
2. Breads - soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o nuts
3. Grains - pasta, soft cooked rice
4. Meats/poultry - soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
5. Seafood - tuna, salmon, crab cakes
6. Vegetables - mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
7. Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
8. Treats - ice cream w/o nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many teens your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today's braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.