There are a lot of questions that come to your mind when you think about the best dental care. Before getting medical treatment, it is natural to have some apprehension towards its benefits and its side effects and then evaluate if the benefits outweigh the costs. However, the best way to make an informed decision about any dental treatment is to know what is normal and what isn’t.
a dental care Houston brings you a complete guide to help you understand the normal and abnormal side effects of getting braces so you know what to expect from the procedure.
Common Side Effects of Braces
Mild Discomfort
There will be some discomfort when you first get braces. According to dental clinics of Texas braces work by manually moving your teeth to proper alignment. This discomfort can manifest as headaches, or even just be concentrated on your teeth. Your orthodontist might prescribe some over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. If pains or headaches get a lot worse with time, you need to let your dentist know since it might be a sign of another condition.
Irritation
Your mouth will not be used to the brackets and wires that make up the braces. You will need to give your mouth and lips some time to adjust to the right position. During this time, you may be mildly irritated. Luckily, a lot of products such as orthodontic wax exist to reduce this irritation. You just need to put the wax on a single bracket or an entire section and start to feel the immediate relief. However if you feel like there is a sharp wire poking you or making your mouth bleed, have a talk with your orthodontist.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain is one of the most common side effects of braces, particularly if your orthodontic treatment deals with the realignment of your jaw. Over-the-counter pain medications can help you in managing this pain, based on its severity. However, jaw pain may resurface after every tightening.
Difficulty Eating
Difficulty eating and chewing food when you first start with braces or when you get a tightening is a common complaint. Even though it lasts only for a short time and resolves itself, you may have to shift to a braces-friendly diet temporarily.
Unusual Effects from Braces
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is very common when you first start wearing braces. It results primarily from poor oral hygiene. You may need some time to adjust your oral regime to accommodate elastics and braces. It is crucial that patients clean their teeth thoroughly every day. You need to brush twice a day, floss every day, get the best dental services to maintain good oral hygiene. However, if your teeth start to decay, you may need to delay your treatment and take care of the decay first.
Decalcification
It is imperative to practice good dental hygiene particularly for patients in braces. Decalcification is basically the appearance of white marks on the teeth. It is one of the most common side effects of having poor hygiene. You may also suffer from cavities if the plaque and food are not getting removed regularly. Such issues are preventable with thorough, regular flossing and brushing and maintaining a diet that is low in sugar.
Allergic Reactions
Many patients sometimes experience an allergic reaction to the metal used in braces or the latex rubber in the elastics. To avoid any complications, you need to communicate your allergies clearly to the best dentist in Houston. There are many alternative metals available these days. There is even latex-free elastic to help you avoid allergies as much as possible.
Root Resorption
Root resorption stands for the shortening of roots when a person wears braces. Root resorption can be a little more than a simple slightly diminished root tip and generally does not result in long-term oral health issues. Sometimes patients may even experience a shortening of about half of the root, which can also cause notable changes to their long-term health. Even though the exact cause is still unknown, but if you manage to wear braces beyond at least two years, you can greatly increase the chances of the recovery of your roots. Make sure that your orthodontist takes regular x-rays and decides if any root resorption has occurred.
Conclusion
Even though the above side effects are possible, they are very uncommon. Most probably you will be happy and confident with your smile after your treatment is done. However, it is important that you ask your orthodontist any questions that you may have. Your orthodontist should know all your concerns in order to make sure that you avoid anything that you are apprehensive about when it comes to braces. In case you do suffer from any side effects, your orthodontist at a dental care Houston will be able to resolve them as soon as possible.
