How Can I Speed Up My Orthodontic Treatment?
Long Beach, CA – At HD Orthodontics, we know that one of our patient’s favorite days is the day their braces are removed. While we encourage everyone to be patient because there is not magic fix for your teeth, we do have a few tips to make sure you can be in and out of treatment as soon as possible.
Follow your braces diet.
If you wear traditional bracket and wire braces, it is important to avoid foods that can damage your braces. We know it can be annoying to have to avoid some of your favorite foods, but we promise it will be worth it. You’ll need to avoid anything that is too hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy as these types of foods can pull the brackets off or damage your wires. Damage to your braces can extend your treatment time, especially if you can’t get in to see us to correct the issue right away.
Don’t forget to protect your smile.
This means you need to brush and floss regularly – and maybe even more often while you’re in orthodontic treatment. Take the time to carefully brush around the brackets and under the wires so that you can avoid decay. Any dental issues that arise during treatment can set you back.
Likewise, if you are involved in contact sports, or any physical activity where a blow to the mouth could occur, it is important to wear a properly fitted mouthguard. A mouthguard will protect your teeth and protect your appliances from breaking.
Follow all directions given to you by your orthodontist.
One of the most important factors in helping your treatment go by quickly is you. We know that your lives get busy, but please don’t forget to follow all directions provided by your orthodontist. If you wear aligners, it is important to wear them full time as directed and follow the wear schedule provided. If you have rubber bands to correct your bite, please wear them as your orthodontist recommends. Failing to do so can lengthen your treatment time. Your treatment can only work as long as you are also doing your part.
Visit us regularly.
We know your schedule is probably hectic and scheduling appointments around work, school and activities can be hard. However, it is very important to see us regularly so that we can ensure everything is progressing as it should. Sometimes, our teeth don’t respond to treatment in the way we had thought they would, and we need to make adjustments to the treatment plan. If you aren’t visiting us regularly, we can’t monitor this and adjust in a timely manner. It is also important that we replace the wires to ensure we are progressing with your teeth movement. We don’t want your treatment drawn out any longer than it has to be, so don’t forget to schedule regular visits.
We know that all of our patients want to be in and out of treatment as quickly as possible. But the best way to ensure that happens is to follow all the directions provided by your orthodontist. Our goal is the same – to ensure you have a beautiful smile as quickly as possible. Follow the tips above, and you’ll be enjoying your new smile in no time.