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Braces for a Healthier Bite
Traditional braces are a trusted method of straightening teeth. Orthodontists have successfully used them for decades to help align smiles and improve bites.
Orthodontic braces are essentially made up of three basic elements: brackets, a flexible arch wire, and sometimes elastic bands.
Brackets are attached to the front of the teeth to hold the arch wire in position. The archwire exerts pressure on the teeth, guiding them to their correct alignment. Elastic bands are employed to provide additional force in targeted directions.
Braces are a versatile option for orthodontic treatment, offering many ways to help you achieve a straight, healthy smile. They can be used to correct many different types of orthodontic issues, ranging from moderate to complex, for children, teens and adults of all ages.
Today's braces also come in several streamlined options that offer a cleaner, lower-profile appearance for those concerned about aesthetics.
Payment Plans & Financing Options
At CDF Family Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to essential health care. To help our patients manage the cost of orthodontic treatment, we offer flexible payment plans and convenient financing with CareCredit.
Types of Braces at CDF Family Orthodontics
The type of braces we suggest will be based on several factors, such as your orthodontic needs and budget. We offer the following options.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are known for their effectiveness, durability, and affordability. This type of braces has been used the longest. With traditional metal braces, metal brackets are attached to the teeth, and arch wires are threaded through them to guide teeth into their proper positions. Elastic ties or metal wires secure the archwire in place.
The wires are typically made of metal alloys and are designed to apply enough force to straighten teeth while maximizing comfort for the patient.
Translucent Braces
'Translucent' is a bit of a misnomer because these braces aren't actually see-through. They just look that way because the brackets are made from a tooth-colored ceramic that blends with your teeth, creating a transparent look and making them less noticeable than traditional metal braces.
While translucent braces work well for many people, they aren't suitable for everyone. Since ceramic braces are less strong than metal ones, certain orthodontic issues are better treated with conventional metal braces.
Living with Braces
Braces take a bit of getting used to at first, but you'll develop new routines around them in no time. Here are some factors that may influence your daily life during your orthodontic treatment with braces.
Adjustments
Adjustments are an essential part of orthodontic treatment with braces. Approximately every four to eight weeks, you'll come to our office for a check-up and to have your braces adjusted. This ensures your teeth continue to move as planned throughout your treatment.
You may feel some discomfort in the hours or days after your adjustment appointments as your mouth adjusts. This discomfort is temporary and can be best managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Elastics
Elastics, also called rubber bands, are used with traditional braces to apply additional force to certain areas of your mouth to guide tooth movement. They play a key role in your treatment.
You'll need to change out your elastics regularly, though, since they tend to lose their stretch as the day wears on. Many of our patients find that making it a habit to change their elastics after each meal helps them remember.
Always follow your orthodontist's instructions regarding your elastics. Contact one of our two offices if you find that your elastics break frequently or if the hook for your elastics breaks off.
Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is more crucial than ever when you have braces. Braces create various small spaces and crevices where plaque can accumulate, leading to tooth discoloration, tooth decay, and gum disease.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy during your braces treatment, be sure to brush after each meal using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. A Proxabrush® is a specially shaped toothbrush designed to clean out the spaces between braces. You can also use a Waterpik™ or air flosser to help flush out stubborn food particles.
You should also floss regularly. It’s easier than you might think. Simply slide the floss between the arch wire and your teeth. Gently pull the end toward the back of the tooth, then move the floss up and down between the teeth.
Eating
Having braces for orthodontic treatment means that there are some foods that you should avoid to help avoid damage to your braces.
Foods that you'll need to avoid include chewy or sticky foods (like caramel or liquorice), hard or crunchy foods (hard candies, nuts, or whole raw vegetables), and foods you have to bite into (like corn on the cob or apples). You'll also need to avoid sugary drinks.
Cutting food into small pieces and chewing slowly and carefully lets you enjoy more variety during your treatment, but always follow your orthodontist's advice.
Mouth Guards
If you're an athlete, there's no reason for braces to stop you from playing the sports you love. However, if you wish to continue participating in sports during your treatment, we recommend wearing a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth, mouth, and braces from potential damage.
Retainers
After your active orthodontic treatment with braces (or Invisalign) is complete, you'll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new, straightened positions while the jawbone around their roots reforms and hardens.
You will probably wear your retainer 24 hours a day, every day, during the first eight weeks or so after getting braces - only removing it for eating and brushing your teeth, as your orthodontist recommends.
Once your teeth have settled into their new positions, with approval from your orthodontist, you may begin wearing it at night only.
Questions About Braces? We've Got Answers.
If you're thinking about getting braces, you probably have some questions. Start by reading our braces FAQs to find out how they work and the benefits they offer.
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How much do orthodontic braces cost?
The cost of orthodontic treatment can vary widely depending on the type and severity of the misalignment and the kind of braces used. Your orthodontist will give you an estimate of the cost at the beginning.
If you've already received an estimate from your orthodontist, feel free to use our cost calculator to determine your approximate monthly payments.
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Who is a candidate for braces?
Most children, teens and adults who have healthy teeth and gums are usually great candidates for braces, but those with significant recession or other oral health conditions might need to explore other options. It's always best to consult with your dentist to find what's right for you!
Braces come in a variety of styles and can address a wide range of moderate to complex orthodontic issues, so there are very few limits to who can benefit from braces.
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What are my options for low-profile braces?
We offer translucent braces at CDF Family Orthodontics.
Translucent braces have ceramic brackets that match the color of your teeth, allowing them to blend in with your smile. You can learn more about this types of braces on this page under 'Types of Braces'.
Invisalign clear aligners are also an option for low-profile orthodontic treatment.
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How long will I need to wear braces?
The average treatment time for braces is 12 to 24 months, but it can vary from patient to patient. The length of your orthodontic treatment mainly depends on the type and severity of your misalignment. As you might expect, milder or moderate cases tend to be shorter to treat than more complex ones.
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How long until I get used to my braces?
It may take around two weeks to become accustomed to your braces after you first get them. You may find it hard to resist poking them with your tongue as you get used to how the wires and brackets feel.
You may also notice that some parts of your mouth rub against the braces and cause soreness. Applying orthodontic wax to those areas can smooth the surface and reduce friction as your mouth adjusts. This discomfort is temporary, and within a few weeks, your mouth will likely feel normal again.
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Do braces hurt?
You will likely experience some discomfort at various points during your orthodontic treatment with braces. However, any pain you feel during your braces treatment is temporary and usually resolves within a few days or even hours.
Discomfort from braces typically lasts about a week after you get them and also occurs for a few hours or days following adjustment appointments as your teeth begin to move. Patients usually describe it as a feeling of pressure or an ache. This type of pain is generally easy to manage with over-the-counter pain relievers until it subsides.
Another type of temporary discomfort you may experience during your braces treatment is when the brackets rub against the inside of your mouth. This can also happen when you first get your braces and directly after adjustment appointments. Orthodontic wax can be placed on the braces where they rub to smooth out the surface against your mouth. Painkillers can also be used to help manage this discomfort until it subsides.
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Can adults get braces?
Yes, adults can get braces! More and more adults these days are choosing to undergo orthodontic treatment they missed out on when they were younger to enhance their oral health and improve the appearance of their smiles.
Many of our adult patients prefer the lower profile, more streamlined look of translucent ceramic braces or Invisalign. These options give you the opportunity to straighten your teeth in a way that’s less noticeable than traditional braces, making the process more comfortable and confidence-boosting.
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Can kids get braces?
Yes, and in some cases, children as young as seven years old may be candidates for braces. Certain developing misalignments and bite problems are easier to treat when children are young, as we can work with and guide their oral development rather than fixing issues that have already formed later on.
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Do I have to brush more with braces?
Yes, it's a good idea to brush your teeth at least after each meal throughout your braces treatment.
Oral hygiene becomes more important than ever while you're wearing braces. Having braces in your mouth creates many small crevices and spaces that weren't there before. It's easy for food particles to get stuck in these tiny areas, which can lead to bacterial growth.
To keep your smile healthy, it's important to be extra vigilant with your oral hygiene. This helps prevent cavities, tooth discoloration, and bad breath.
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How do I floss with braces?
Flossing with braces may seem complicated, but it's fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it!
To floss with braces, guide the floss through the space between your archwire and teeth. We provide floss threaders to help make this easier. Gently pull the end of the floss back toward the rear of the tooth, then move it up and down between the teeth. Repeat this process for each pair of teeth.
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What can I eat while I'm wearing braces?
Eating with braces requires some extra care, but you should still be able to eat many of the foods you love.
You'll need to avoid hard, crunchy, or overly sticky/tacky foods. In general, it's important to chew carefully while wearing braces and take your time. Avoid biting into foods like apples (cut them into bite-sized pieces instead), and refrain from chewing gum completely.
Generally, you can continue enjoying your usual diet, with just a few simple dietary adjustments here and there.
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Can I still play contact sports if I wear braces?
We usually suggest avoiding sports that might involve hard hits to the face when you have braces. Even if you wear a mouth guard, activities like boxing are best avoided to keep your smile safe.
Other contact sports, like football or rugby, may be possible if you wear a mouth guard, but we advise extreme caution in these cases as well.
Most sports shouldn't pose a problem for you, but if you want to keep playing during your treatment, we suggest wearing a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, mouth, and braces from damage.
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Braces vs. Invisalign: How do I choose which is best for me?
Braces and Invisalign are both effective methods of orthodontic treatment, but their differences can influence which option is better suited for each person.
Factors to consider when choosing between braces and Invisalign include your personal preferences and lifestyle, aesthetics, the nature and severity of your misalignment, and cost. You can learn more here.
Your orthodontist will evaluate your situation and suggest the most suitable treatment options for you.