It’s that time of year again when we look back over the past year and make some goals to better ourselves mentally and physically. For many, that includes improving their smile! While considering your New Year’s resolutions for this year, be sure to include improving your smile on your list! And what better way to improve your smile than getting orthodontic treatment?

A Great Smile Starts With Good Oral Health

You already know that keeping teeth healthy means brushing twice a day and flossing daily. You want to keep dental plaque away so it doesn’t harden into tartar (which your dental hygienist then needs to remove). But did you know that straight teeth are easier to clean effectively? Having crooked or overlapping teeth makes oral hygiene harder and leaves teeth vulnerable to cavities and gum disease.

 Why Orthodontic Goals?

While you are setting new goals for 2022, consider putting your smile on the list to make improvements with orthodontics! Brushing and flossing are optimized with straight and aligned teeth. Not only does this spare you from unnecessary tooth decay and gum problems, but it will also protect you from having trouble chewing and eating. Being able to flash a straight smile boosts your self-confidence around others, whether in school, the workplace, social gatherings, or dating! An aligned smile can leave you smiling from ear to ear and laughing more openly because you are happy with your smile.

Modern Orthodontic Options

Gone are the days of bulky and uncomfortable metal braces. Today’s orthodontic treatments can range from smaller, smoother, and more esthetically pleasing braces as well as removable clear acrylic aligners. Modern braces are lighter and more forgiving, which can make them more comfortable and more efficient at shifting teeth. It also translates to shorter treatment times than in the past and fewer office visits to get adjustments. And while you can still get metal braces if you prefer, you can also get ceramic braces or braces with colorful brackets. Kids and teens often enjoy colorful braces, while adults often opt for clear aligners.

Oral Hygiene While in Orthodontic Treatment

No matter what your choice of orthodontic treatment is, you must brush and floss your teeth daily. Cleaning teeth is easy to do while wearing clear aligners and will keep teeth and gums healthy, but you also need to keep your aligner trays free from harmful bacteria, food particles, and even dried saliva. Speaking of saliva, it is important to stay hydrated throughout your day by drinking enough water so your mouth can flush out harmful bacteria and food particles that cause tooth decay. For this reason, avoid alcohol while undergoing orthodontic treatment to protect healthy tooth enamel and avoid bacterial acids. It lessens your risk of getting cavities, gum disease or other oral health problems that might interfere with your orthodontic treatment.

Avoid drinking anything other than water while wearing clear aligners, as that can stain them. Hot drinks can also warp your aligners, so avoid hot chocolate, tea, or coffee! But even with braces, you will want to avoid soda because of the sugar and acids, both of which accelerate tooth decay! Even sports drinks and fruit juices are high in sugar that decay teeth.

Initial Complimentary Consultation

No matter what type of orthodontic treatment you ultimately choose, our orthodontic team is excited to work with you this year to create the aligned, beautiful smile you deserve! We welcome you to give us a call so we can schedule your complimentary initial orthodontic evaluation. We look forward to helping you fulfill your New Year’s resolution for a spectacular smile!