Getting braces
You went to visit the dentist and he said you need to get braces. You do not know how you feel about this or what to expect.
Suddenly you feel very aware of the fact that your teeth is not straight. What will the other kids say? Do not worry about it too much - many kids have braces and not everybody has teeth that grows straight by itself.
If you get the braces when you are younger, it is much better than having it when you are an adult and the longer you wait, the longer it will take to straighten your teeth.
Besides from having 'crooked' teeth you can also have what is called an 'underbite' or an overbite'.
Problems with overbites and/or overjets can usually be traced to genetics, bad oral habits, or over development of the bone that supports the teeth. Underbites occur when the lower teeth protrude past the upper front teeth, and are caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both.
You can read more on the different types of bites here.
If you visit your dentist regularly, he will see if there are any problem with your teeth and if so your will have to go to an orthodontist who is an expert on braces and will explain the types of braces and the time it will take to solve the problem.
Braces have come a long way since your parents had to wear some. The braces were big and made of metal. These days the braces are still made of metal but can have different colors or can be the color of your teeth. There are even braces that goes behind your teeth, so that nobody can see it.
So you see, even with braces you can still be 'cool'.
The braces are made from better material that straightens the teeth much faster and the rubber bands you need to use comes in different colors and you will look funky wearing them every day.
The work of the braces are to put pressure on your teeth to slowly move them in the direction or the place they need to be. Your orthodontist will tighten the wires every now and then so that the pressure is even.
The time you will wear your braces will differ from person to person but it is usually around 2 years. Once it comes off, some people still wears a 'retainer' to keep their teeth in the position it is suppose to be.
How will my life be with braces?
If I am honest I will have to tell you that it will not always be fun.
There will be days that you have a very sore mouth and will not be able to eat anything you want for a day or two, there will be days that you will have to go to the doctor again because one of the wires has broken or there will be days that you are just irritated with having braces because the food keeps getting stuck there.
In the beginning it will feel very strange to have braces and your lips can even get sore, but you will get use to it quickly. So much so that when the braces comes off it will feel strange again without it.
Remember that your are wearing braces for a reason and once the braces comes off you will be amazed at your new set of straight teeth and all the pain that you had to endure now and then would have been worth while.
Foods to Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment. Hard foods such as pizza crust, hard rolls, pretzels bagels, nuts, chips, and raw carrots can break, damage or knock off your wires and brackets. Foods such as Doritos and tacos can form a hard ball on your braces, making it hard to remove.
Find more information here on what your life will be like with braces.
