Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that requires expertise and allows the correction of crooked teeth and jaws that are not in ideal positions using fixed and removable appliances.
Functional appliances
Functional appliances are removable palate pads that affect the teeth and jaw bones. It is aimed to correct the non-ideal positions of the jaws by using the growth potential of patients in the growth and development period. It is important for children who are in the growth and development period to be examined by an Orthodontist during this period, which is an important factor in preventing permanent disorders.
It is recommended to wear these appliances 24 hours a day, unless your orthodontist has a different recommendation. It is normal for your teeth to be painful for 3-5 days following the first day the appliances are installed. If necessary, you can use painkillers recommended by your doctor. The appliances are removed while eating, and after brushing the teeth after each meal, the appliances are cleaned with a soft brush.
How should people who use braces eat?
Patients who use braces need to regulate their diet to prevent their brackets from falling off. Brackets break only with hard and sudden forces. Therefore, fruits and vegetables should be eaten by cutting them into small pieces with a knife. Foods such as hazelnuts, peanuts and nuts should be separated from their shells and consumed by grinding them. The seeds of foods with seeds, such as olives and dates, must be removed by hand and eaten. Sticky, sugary foods (such as jelly beans and caramel foods) should be avoided. These foods can tear your brackets and stick to your teeth, causing tooth decay. Foods such as burgers, toast, and wraps should be divided by hand and consumed in small bites. During the treatment, carbonated and sugary drinks should be avoided.
During orthodontic treatment, special procedures are performed in each session to progress the treatment. If the patient does not regulate his diet during braces treatment, your treatment will not be able to progress because the brackets will break and the teeth will move independently of the braces, and your doctor will have to return to the thin braces he wore in the first sessions. Both your appointment time and your total treatment time will be extended.
How should I take care of my teeth during my orthodontic treatment?
During chewing, the cheeks, tongue and teeth serve as mechanical cleaning. In patients with braces treatment, the cleaning effect of the cheeks on the teeth disappears, and in addition, the brackets cause food to stick to the teeth and make it more difficult for the patient to maintain oral care. Therefore, during braces treatment, patients should brush their teeth at least three times a day, preferably with a soft brush and fluoride-containing paste each time, regardless of what enters their mouth. At the same time, patients should get support from alcohol-free mouthwashes and use an interdental brush once a day. They should organize their diet as recommended by their doctor, avoiding sticky, sugary and acidic foods and drinks, and consume healthy snacks during their snacks. In patients who do not take into account the recommendations of their orthodontists, white spot lesions (the beginnings of caries) are seen quite frequently around the brackets and on the front surface of the teeth. When these lesions progress, they cause major caries and teeth lose their aesthetics and health.
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