Traditional braces continue to be one of the most popular ways to straighten teeth and improve oral health. Their reliable bracket-and-wire system easily addresses crookedness, misalignment, gaps, and overcrowding, creating smiles that look beautiful and work seamlessly. During treatment, though, these metal appliances can cause problems. Whether you’re currently wearing braces or preparing for your first appointment, here are four common issues to watch out for while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Problem #1: Oral Sores
Although many dentists now use metal brackets that lay flatter than those that used to protrude more significantly, these appliances can cause oral sores to form on the inside of your cheeks. Your lips and tongue can also bear the brunt of this uncomfortable rubbing.
The good news is your orthodontist can provide you with dental wax. By placing it over the troublesome brackets, you can better protect your soft oral tissues from further harm.
Problem #2: Cavities
Cleaning around brackets and wires can be difficult, especially if you’re not using the right kinds of instruments. An interdental brush and water irrigator can be helpful when removing plaque and food debris from your teeth.
However, cavities can still form, as the process of maintaining your orthodontic appliances takes time and patience. Bits of food can become trapped in or around brackets, allowing bacteria to grow and cause cavities to form.
By practicing good oral hygiene at home and seeing your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, you can reduce your risk and keep your pearly whites healthy throughout treatment.
Problem #3: Speech Impediment
When you initially receive your metal braces, you can expect to develop a slight speech impediment. Your lips and tongue will need time to adjust to these new appliances, so for a short while, it may be more difficult to create certain words or sounds.
With practice, though, your lisp may slowly go away, allowing you to sound like your old self. In some situations, the impediment might remain throughout treatment. In this case, you will need to accept the reality of the situation and trust that once your braces come off, it will be all worth it.
Problem #4: Broken Wire
As one of the most common problems that can occur while wearing braces, a broken wire can occur when eating something hard, sustaining a facial injury while playing sports, or for many other reasons.
The most frequent complication of a broken wire is the discomfort that can occur should it begin to poke the inside of your cheek. Fortunately, your orthodontist can fix the problem. In the meantime, you can use dental wax to create a separator between the wire and your soft tissues.
Just because braces can be problematic at times doesn’t mean you should forget about realigning your crooked teeth. These issues can be easily treated (and avoided), allowing you to remain on track to see a new and improved smile in the future.
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich has more than a decade of experience helping her patients achieve beautiful smiles. She obtained a doctoral degree in dentistry from The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine before going on to receive a master’s degree in oral biology from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. At Mikolich Orthodontics, she will administer emergency assistance should you sustain an injury while wearing braces. She will also discuss ways to avoid certain problems that occur along the way. If you are worried about issues that can develop while wearing orthodontic appliances, visit our website or call (330) 967-4110.