Your braces are a big investment of both your time and money, so you want to avoid as many mistakes as possible. According to Humana, adults can expect to wear braces for three to four years while younger patients usually have them for two years. No matter how long your treatment lasts, make sure you avoid these most common mistakes.
Lack of Good Dental Hygiene
One of the most common mistakes that people make with their braces is to neglect regular dental hygiene. Braces will require even more strict adherence to dental hygiene practices. For instance, you’ll need to brush more often and more thoroughly once you have braces on. Your orthodontist will give you instructions on how to properly care for your braces to ensure that your teeth don’t suffer while the braces are on.
Eating Prohibited Foods
When you first get your braces on, the orthodontist will inform you about foods you should avoid. If you continue to eat those foods, you could damage your braces. Your orthodontist will also inform you of any added expense you might see if you need braces or parts of your brackets replaced. This does cost money and if you consider you might have your braces on for up to four years, those expenses could add up over time if you purposefully continue to eat foods that will do damage.
Missing Appointments
You’ll be put on an appointment schedule after your braces are put on and it’s your responsibility to keep up with all of these appointments. During these visits, your orthodontist will examine your teeth to make sure there are no problems. If you miss appointments there might be issues developing that need treatment and if the doctor misses those because you aren’t at the appointment it could cause worse problems for you down the road.
Another big mistake that people often make is that they fail to communicate with their orthodontist’s office. Communication is key during any type of treatment. Our expert team strives for open communication and fantastic results with each and every patient. If you’re in need of orthodontic care, please give us a call today. We will be happy to schedule a consultation.