Braces Questions
Can you drink coffee with clear braces? Are braces the only treatment option for complex cases? How much do braces cost? These are the questions we hear frequently from our Abbotsford, Langley and Surrey braces patients at the start of their treatment. The team at Aura Orthodontics thought it was time to give you some clarity on all of your burning braces questions, so we’re answering some of the most popular ones.
How do braces work?
Braces consist of a system of brackets and wires. The brackets are bonded to your teeth with special adhesive and an arch wire is threaded through them. This wire acts as a track to guide the teeth into place. If you want to get technical, your braces exert steady, gentle pressure, which kicks off the process of bone remodeling. When this happens, the bone that supports the teeth breaks down, which allows the teeth to move. The bone then reforms around the teeth, securing them in their new places.
What are the different types of braces you offer at your practice?
At Aura Orthodontics, we offer two types of braces: metal braces and clear braces. Metal braces involve brackets and wires and are made of high-grade stainless steel. The metal braces we use at our practice are much more streamlined, comfortable and attractive than those used in the past. Younger patients often love them because they can choose colorful elastics to go with them.
Clear braces also rely on brackets and wires to straighten the teeth. However, they’re much less noticeable because the brackets blend in with your smile. They’re made from pure grown sapphire and each crystal is honed and heat polished, making them strong and durable. If you’d prefer a more under-the-radar treatment option, clear braces are a great choice.
Can you straighten teeth without braces?
Of course! Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are excellent ways to straighten teeth without braces. The system of clear aligners is removable, comfortable and virtually invisible. There are no brackets and wires involved. Thanks to our high level of experience with clear aligners, we can address a wide array of cases with them, including those that are complex.
Do I need braces?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your smile, braces could be a great way to transform it. However, you’ll want to visit a certified specialist in orthodontics like Dr. Sharma, Dr. Lin or Dr. Koo for an evaluation. They’re experts in diagnosing, preventing and treating malocclusions, or issues with the positioning or sizing of the teeth and jaws. They can determine if braces are the best way to get the results you want and then design the ideal smile based on your facial features.
How do you take care of braces?
As for how to take care of braces, you’ll want to avoid really hard, chewy or sticky foods that can damage your appliance, such as nuts, pizza crust and toffee. You’ll also need to brush your teeth in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before bed. When brushing your teeth with braces, be sure to brush around your brackets and wires and on every surface of your teeth. Give each tooth individual attention. You may also want to use an interproximal brush to clean the tight spaces.
Continue flossing once daily too. If you’re wondering how to floss with braces, it can take some getting used to but once you adjust, you’ll be pro. To make it easier, we recommend using special orthodontic flossers or at least a floss threader to help you maneuver the floss under the wire and between your teeth. Once you get in between any two teeth, floss up and down the side of one tooth, all the way to the gum line, and up and down the side of the other tooth before moving on to the next set.
Can you drink coffee with clear braces?
Hey, if you need a cup of coffee in the morning to get your day going, we’d never ask you to forgo that. While you can drink coffee with clear braces since today’s brackets resist stains, it can cause slight discoloration of the clear elastics. How can you avoid this? After having a cup of coffee, drink some water and swish a bit around in your mouth to get rid of any excess coffee. You may also want to brush your teeth. However, since coffee is acidic, you should wait about an hour to brush your teeth after drinking it.
Do clear braces take longer than metal braces?
No. The clear braces and metal braces we use are equally as effective. The length of your treatment will depend on how severe your case is, and how well you care for your braces and how diligent you are with wearing any extras like rubber bands. Your teeth will move in the same way regardless of whether your brackets are clear or metal.
Do braces hurt?
No. You should never feel any real braces pain. However, sometimes, the teeth can feel a little bit sensitive when you first get braces or after adjustments. This is completely normal and means they’re working! To help combat any discomfort, stick with soft foods and cold drinks until the sensitivity subsides in a day or two. Things like smoothies, ice water, milkshakes, mashed potatoes, applesauce and soup all work well. If you need to, you can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever (whatever you’d normally take for a headache).
Occasionally, your braces can also irritate the inside of your cheeks and lips at the start of treatment. Your mouth will acclimate and this will go away. In the meantime, we’ll show you how to use orthodontic wax but the gist is, simply break off a small piece of wax, roll it in between your fingers to warm it up and then place it on the area of your braces that’s bothering you. It will act as a buffer between your braces and the soft tissues of your mouth.
If you’re concerned with whether braces hurt when you get them put on, the answer is no. The process of getting braces put on doesn’t hurt a bit. We don’t use any needles. We simply stick the brackets on your teeth using a special adhesive and thread the wires through them before securing them in place.
How much do braces cost?
How much do braces cost is probably our most popular braces-related question. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a set number because every case is unique. Much like determining the duration of treatment, figuring out the cost of braces will depend on how complex your case is, how long your treatment lasts and the type of appliance you choose. We don’t think finances should hold you back from getting a smile you love, which is why we strive to make our Abbotsford, Langley and Surrey braces affordable for our patients. We offer flexible payment options, including interest-free monthly payment plans. We also accept assignment/insurance if your plan provides coverage.
Am I too old for braces?
No! You’re never too old to get a smile you’re thrilled with! We’ve been seeing more and more adults at our practice. Sometimes, it’s individuals who had braces in the past and forgot to wear their retainer, which led to the teeth shifting. Or, in other cases, our adult patients never had the chance to straighten their teeth when they were younger. Whatever the reason, braces aren’t just for teenagers. As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, orthodontic treatment can still be effective regardless of your age. If you do have oral health concerns, we can work in conjunction with your general dentist or any specialists to ensure your smile gets to the point where it’s healthy enough for treatment.
What’s the best age for braces?
While the teenage years are a common time to start braces treatment, as we just noted, you can still get them as an adult and see significant improvement in your smile. Additionally, sometimes, when a younger patient has certain issues, particularly if they’re skeletal in nature like an underbite, we may start treatment when they’re still growing and have some baby teeth. This is because we can guide the growth of their jaw and enable the permanent teeth to come into a more optimal position. This helps to avoid surgery or extractions later in life and makes treatment in the teen years quicker and more affordable.
We hope you found our braces answers helpful! If you have more braces questions or you’re ready to start straightening your smile with Invisalign or braces in Surrey, Abbotsford or Langley, Aura Orthodontics is here to help. Our offices are officially re-open (woo hoo!) with all of the necessary safety protocols in place. Book a consultation with us today in-person or virtually from the comfort of your own home to kick off your smile journey.