Table of contents:
- Benefits of wearing braces
- 1. Improve dental health
- 2. Protect teeth
- 3. Resolve eating problems
- 4. Have a beautiful smile and straight teeth
- The effects of wearing stirrups or the risks involved
- 1. Feel uncomfortable
- 2. Experiencing root resorption
- 3. Have an injury
- 4. Teeth back into shape again
- 5. Risks of wearing stirrups as adults
- 6. Make teeth turn yellow
- Guide to care for braces or braces
- 1. Choose your food carefully
- 2. Avoid bad habits that damage your teeth
- 3. Clean between braces after eating
- 4. Using dental floss
- 5. Routine control
- 6. Protect your teeth during sports
- How to reduce pain when you just put the stirrup and just tighten it
- 1. Drink cold water or popsicles
- 2. Take pain relievers
- 3. Gargle salt water
- 4. Warm compress
Braces or commonly referred to as stirrups are wire-based devices used by orthodontists to repair teeth or jaws that are not flat and teeth that have accumulated. In addition to the various benefits that can be obtained, also understand the effects of using a stirrup and how to care for a good stirrup.
Many people wear braces as a teenager to fix their teeth. But make no mistake, adults can also benefit from braces. The main purpose of this stirrup is to align the teeth and jaw so that it can bite the food properly and produce a beautiful smile.
If you have plans to use braces, consider carefully whether this is your best decision. Therefore, before you decide to use it, let's look at some of the benefits and effects of wearing the following stirrup.
Benefits of wearing braces
Braces are used to correct a variety of dental problems and provide a number of benefits. Let's discuss some of the main advantages of using braces below:
1. Improve dental health
Orthodontic problems such as crooked teeth, plaque, irregular teeth, improper bite patterns, bacteria, gum disease, etc. can be treated with braces. The braces will align the structure of your teeth in the most appropriate way and this can improve the hygiene of your teeth.
2. Protect teeth
People who have an uneven bite pattern or other orthodontic problems have a higher risk of having a harmful impact on the teeth, such as protruding front teeth, and premature tooth decay or problems.
Therefore, people who experience this need a strong shield to protect their teeth. Braces act as protection against these bad effects, and at the same time maintain dental health.
3. Resolve eating problems
Many people have difficulty chewing or biting their food. This is caused by crooked teeth. If this is not corrected, it will cause nutritional and digestive problems. Therefore, you can use stirrup to solve your eating problem.
4. Have a beautiful smile and straight teeth
It is common knowledge that braces can improve the overall appearance of your teeth. After correcting ragged and irregular teeth, the result is a beautiful smile.
The overall effect of this change will also increase your self-confidence, so that you will freely express yourself openly without hesitation or embarrassment.
The effects of wearing stirrups or the risks involved
Apart from getting the benefits, it turns out that there are also risks of wearing braces that you should be aware of before you start this treatment, some examples are as follows:
1. Feel uncomfortable
This discomfort varies considerably from person to person. In general, your teeth may feel a little sore, a little loose, and you won't have the energy to bite in the first few days of use.
Part of the stirrup can rub against your lips, cheeks, or tongue, causing pain. Sometimes, there are people who get canker sores. In addition, you may also experience increased saliva and a little difficulty speaking.
2. Experiencing root resorption
Root resorption is the shortening of the root of the tooth. Some orthodontic patients tend to have this problem. This change in root length is normal in orthodontic treatment and usually does not cause long-term adverse effects on a healthy mouth.
3. Have an injury
Because the braces cover your teeth, a blow or blow that hits your mouth can scratch the inside of your lip or cheek. Wire and bracket loose or damaged ones can scratch and irritate the inner cheeks, gums, or lips.
Follow your dentist's advice regarding good eating habits or other habits to minimize the chance of injury.
4. Teeth back into shape again
If you don't follow the dentist's instructions carefully after you have removed your braces then there are risks involved. Especially when you don't follow the directions for wearing retainer , You may lose some of the improvements you get while wearing braces. Your teeth can fall back into disarray if you don't follow the instructions for care after removing the braces.
5. Risks of wearing stirrups as adults
If the doctor has problems with the supporting bones of your teeth when you are an adult, you will need to have surgery before installing the braces. This is because growth in your jawbone has generally stopped in adulthood.
Adults likely take longer to use braces than young children or adolescents. Even so, the length of time to use the stirrup among adults can also vary. This will depend on the condition of your teeth and how you care for your teeth during the braces.
On the other hand, your risk of developing various oral problems tends to get bigger as you get older. That is why you will need more frequent visits to the dentist. Especially if you have previously had oral and dental problems, such as gum disease or cavities.
6. Make teeth turn yellow
Sometimes, the glue from using the stirrup will also remain on your teeth after you remove it. Although this problem is relatively common, yellowing teeth will certainly make your self-confidence decrease.
Braces are often accused of being the mastermind behind the discoloration of your teeth. In fact, the cause of yellow teeth is not the braces you wear. How you clean your teeth when wearing braces is a major factor that can affect the appearance of your teeth.
Yellow teeth are caused by a buildup of plaque from food debris trapped between the wires and bracket stirrup. Plaque is a colorless layer of bacteria that begins to form on your teeth when you eat and drink.
If not cleaned, plaque will harden into tartar or tartar which can form within 24 hours. Tartar is what makes your teeth look yellow or brown like they are stained.
Guide to care for braces or braces
1. Choose your food carefully
Eating the wrong foods can damage your braces. During the first few days, it is recommended to eat soft and smooth foods. Cut your food into small pieces to make it easier to chew. Examples of foods that you can consume include rice, pasta, fish cake , mashed potato , soft cooked meats, puddings, ice cream, bananas, and juiced fruit.
Some foods are not recommended for consumption when you use braces because they can damage them. They are hard, chewy, sticky, and need to be bitten. Examples of foods to avoid are apples, caramel candy, nuts, and chewing gum. Chewing gum is highly discouraged because it can adhere to braces.
2. Avoid bad habits that damage your teeth
You may have a habit of biting your nails or biting a pencil. You must stop this habit immediately because in addition to damaging your teeth, it can also interfere with the braces you just installed.
3. Clean between braces after eating
It is important for you to maintain the cleanliness and health of your teeth. Always brush your teeth after every meal to avoid getting food stuck on the braces. The best time to brush your teeth is 1 hour after eating.
4. Using dental floss
Clean your teeth while you are using braces with dental floss the law is very obligatory. Because, the risk of accumulating plaque and dirt will be easier when you use braces than not.
Every day, you should clean your teeth for 10-15 minutes, from brushing your teeth and also adding the use of dental floss. Here are the easy steps:
- Cut a piece of thread about 40 cm.
- Thread floss between your braces and teeth.
- Hook the end of the dental floss on your index finger.
- Gently thread the dental floss behind the stirrup and slide it between the teeth. Slide the thread up and down. Make sure you move the dental floss between the one and the other teeth, and between the gums and the teeth.
- Then, gently remove the thread from under the wire. Don't pull it straight away, be careful it gets caught in the braces.
- Move on to the next gear that you want to clean. As much as possible do not pull the stirrup with twine. Pay attention to the location of the thread that you have inserted, then press and slide the floss to clean the teeth.
- Make sure you run the floss on each side of your teeth so that they are all free of debris that cannot be reached by a toothbrush.
- Then rinse your mouth to rinse your cleaned teeth.
Clean your teeth with flossing allowed every day, to prevent plaque buildup in the mouth. Dental floss also cannot be replaced in other ways, such as mouthwash. Both clean teeth and mouth in different ways.
Also, don't let your gums bleed while doing this flossing , if it bleeds it means your movement is too hard.
5. Routine control
Always check regularly with the dentist to see the progress and repair of loose braces. It is advisable to follow up every 3-10 weeks depending on the type of braces you are wearing and your dentist's recommendations.
6. Protect your teeth during sports
If you are an athlete or have a hobby of sports, use a mouth guard every time you exercise to protect your teeth and braces. Especially if you are doing high-risk contact sports.
If you are using detachable braces, always remove them while playing and keep your mouth guard on.
How to reduce pain when you just put the stirrup and just tighten it
Naturally, the pain when installing the stirrup will disappear by itself without any action. This is not something that is dangerous. Gradually you will get used to this pressure, the pain will disappear, and you can chew as usual.
However, if you really can't stand it, some of the tips below you can do to relieve pain after braces control.
1. Drink cold water or popsicles
Drinking cold water is a practical way to relieve the discomfort you feel after tightening your braces. The cold temperature gives a sensation like numbness around the mouth. The cold temperature also helps reduce inflammation of the gums that are sore.
Apart from cold water, you can also eat popsicles from real fruit juices which are very soft in texture. This can help relieve the pain you feel as well as provide pleasure for the tongue.
2. Take pain relievers
If the toothache can no longer be tolerated, take a pain reliever. Try taking a pain reliever one hour before you get your braces tight at the doctor. This will reduce the achiness and discomfort you will feel after you tighten the braces.
Pain relievers are usually available over-the-counter over the counter, but be sure to follow the instructions for use on the drug label. It is not recommended to take long-term pain relievers as overuse can be harmful.
3. Gargle salt water
Teeth braces usually also cause sores on the inner cheeks, lips, and gums. This is what makes you even more uncomfortable. To reduce it, rinse your mouth with salt water to soothe your mouth that is being tasted replied .
The trick, mix a teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water until dissolved. Then gargle with this solution. You can gargle several times a day, then gargle with plain water. Remember, don't swallow the water.
4. Warm compress
If the jaw still hurts after trying the various methods above, this one method can be a lifesaver. Compress the affected area with a cloth that has been moistened with hot water. Place it against the sore cheek, chin, or jaw.
Compress and press gently. Warm compress for a few minutes until the pain subsides a little.