When people get braces, they tend to be a little bit anxious about how they make them look. They might worry that the wires and brackets will negatively affect their appearance, or that they’ll be judged for their dental work.

However, in certain cases, braces may actually make you look better than you did before! For example, there are some colors or rubber bands for braces that can make your teeth look whiter and healthier. If you’re a candidate for braces soon, here’s what you should know about the colors available to you.

For many, the journey to a straighter smile begins with a visit to the orthodontist and the placement of braces. If you’re thinking about starting this process yourself, you may be wondering how it feels to wear them regularly. It’s difficult to articulate as everyone will have a slightly different experience, but there are some universal sensations to speak of. Read on to step into the shoes of someone with braces and learn what it’s like.

Did you know that your teeth have muscle memory? That means if you’ve recently completed orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile, there’s a good chance that they’re going to try to shift back to their previous placements. Thankfully, your orthodontist can provide a retainer to help keep your pearly whites in their intended placements while your mouth adjusts to the new normal.

Many patients, however, either forget or choose not to wear their retainer as directed and come to regret it. As their pearly whites shift back after their initial therapy, they wonder whether wearing a retainer after the fact can re-align them. If you’re curious, keep reading to learn more!

Traditional braces are the tried-and-true method for straightening smiles. Although we tend to associate them with our awkward teenage years, many adults need them later in life as their teeth continue to shift over time. If you’re a grownup getting braces, it’s not uncommon to feel concerned about how your work life might be impacted by the change. After all, you know that it’s important to care for your braces properly so that your treatment stays on schedule. Keep reading to learn 3 tips that can help you adjust to your orthodontics while on the job!

You may look in the mirror one morning and notice that your teeth aren’t as perfectly aligned as they were a few years ago. While this can be frustrating, especially if you underwent orthodontic treatments to align your teeth in the first place, age-related teeth shifting is a common issue and there are measures you can take to address it. Here’s a brief overview of why teeth shift over time as well as how you can prevent or correct the problem.

Cold and flu season is in full swing. When you’re feeling a bit under the weather, you probably turn to OTC cold medications and home remedies to ease your symptoms. Although they can help you recover, they can be bad news for your dental health, especially if you have Invisalign. Cold and flu season doesn’t have to affect your oral health or add delays to your orthodontic treatment. Here are a few tips to keep your mouth healthy and your treatment on track.

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As the holiday season draws near, you might be thinking about ways to bring joy to your child, especially if they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Finding items for the tree or stocking that won’t disrupt their orthodontic journey while still bringing a smile to their face can be a bit tricky. Here are four wonderful stocking stuffer ideas that are friendly for braces and guaranteed to delight your child.

An overbite, where the upper front teeth overlap the lower ones, is a common dental issue. While a slight overbite is natural, an excessive one can lead to oral health complications and lowered confidence. It’s important to seek out treatment for an exaggerated overbite as soon as possible.

If you’re wondering why it’s so important to address your overbite, continue reading. Below are several reasons why correcting your overbite is critical.

Orthodontic emergencies have the potential to be painful, but they also can put a temporary pause on your teeth-straightening journey. So, it goes without saying that you want to protect your braces at all costs. Fortunately, you don’t need to do anything too complicated or cumbersome; here are five easy ways to prevent an orthodontic emergency!

Orthodontics is a specialized segment of dentistry that focuses on tooth and jaw irregularities. They straighten your teeth with various solutions like braces, aligners, and retainers. You may have been to the dentist, but if you don’t regularly see an orthodontist, there may be some disconnect in your mind about how to approach a consultation with one.

Continue reading to find a guide to your first appointment with a professional orthodontist, what questions to ask, and what to expect from your visit.