braces
# what are braces?
Braces are a combination of brackets and archwires to... well, straighten your teeth! The brackets and wires apply pressure to the teeth until they are shifted to the desired position.
how do braces work?
In simple terms, braces apply pressure to your teeth, slowly pushing or pulling them into a better position. As teeth move, the bone also changes its shape as pressure is applied. A wire, which is inserted into the brackets, applies the pressure, slowly moving your teeth into a predetermined location. Are you looking for perfect braces for the teeth?
types of braces
metal braces
These are permanently adhered to your teeth and can only be taken off by the orthodontist at the end of treatment
clear braces
Also known as transparent braces, these braces are either made of ceramic, porcelain or a clear plastic making them invisible to the people around you. Most people won’t even know you have braces on. These are permanently adhered to your teeth and can only be taken off by the orthodontist at the end of treatment.
ceramic braces
Ceramic braces use a combination of wires and clear ceramic brackets to make the braces less noticeable in the mouth. Staining from food and drink is more of an issue with ceramic braces.
lingual braces
Lingual braces consist of very small metal brackets attached to a wire that are placed behind the teeth. They use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, moves teeth into their proper positions.
fact check: brace yourself!
It’s painful
One has to tighten the metal braces occasionally, which can be uncomfortable and painful for a few days every month.
Cuts inside mouth
Metal brackets can rub against the inside of your mouth, irritating the area and forming a sore or a cut.
yellow teeth
Consuming hard stained food items like turmeric, tomato paste, colored candies may stain your teeth and brackets
Food restrictions
Be mindful that braces are sensitive to damage, so one needs to avoid foods like caramel, soda, nuts, chips, chewing gum etc. basically all your favourite food items. Imagine missing out on a feast like that!
oral hygiene
braces make brushing and flossing difficult, leading to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
more visits to the orthodontists
braces can require regular and multiple visits to the orthodontist for adjustments
braces cost in India
While the actual cost of braces treatment depends greatly on the complexity of your case, the duration of your treatment and the type of material used, braces can cost you anywhere from ₹25,000 for traditional metal braces to up to ₹2 lakh for lingual braces!
Clear teeth aligners on the other hand, are way more affordable when compared to the cost of braces. Because at makeO toothsi, the cost of invisible braces a.k.a. clear aligners start at an EMI of just ₹3,019 per month! Not to forget that our invisible aligners are so much more comfortable than traditional braces, and are removable too.
say hello to invisible aligners!
Invisible aligners are an alternative to traditional braces and are designed to help guide teeth into their proper position. invisible teeth aligners use a gradual force to control tooth movement. makeO toothsi aligners are made of the best quality BPA free plastic sheets which are FDA approved. These aligners are 3D printed as per your teeth. Which means, your aligners are based on your assessments. Your teeth and our aligners are always a #PerfectMatch.
Unlike metal braces, aligners give you the freedom and many more reasons to smile. Really! It’ll be our best kept secret, no one will ever be able to see your aligners (unlike braces). They’re not painful. Period. And, they will never come between you and your favourite food, like ever.
braces vs aligners
Braces and aligners are two different types of orthodontic treatments used to straighten teeth and correct bite problems. While both can help straighten your teeth, metal braces happen to have their own set of cons:
painful
painless
visible
invisible
not removable
removable
food restrictions
no food restrictions
tough to maintain oral hygiene
easy to maintain oral hygiene
regular clinic visits
Minimal clinic visits
results can not be visualised
results can be visualised with the virtual smile plan
to know more about aligners
life with braces
buckle up for a not so very smooth ride!
Appearance
One of the drawbacks of regular metal braces is their less-than-ideal appearance as each tooth has highly noticeable metal brackets. Many people become under-confident and try to avoid smiling as much as possible. Children may be teased because of their braces, and adults who must talk regularly for jobs may have their own set of problems. This is why it's vital to choose what type of braces (invisible braces or clear aligners) will be ideal for you or your child early on as it helps you to fix that smile. By choosing a toothsi aligner, you will limit the number of people who even know you have braces!
Food and drink restrictions
Another disadvantage of traditional braces is the restriction of a wide range of foods and beverages. It’s critical to refrain from eating or drinking anything that raises the risk of cavities or other damages.
Painful
Metal braces are significantly more painful than aligners. Majority of the people experience discomfort during the treatment. As one takes out aligners while having meals, one can eat a wider variety of food. When a bracket brushes on the inside of the mouth, it can irritate the skin and cause a sore. Metal braces must be tightened on a regular basis, which can be painful and leave your mouth sore for 2-4 days.That’s perhaps one of the top reasons why people stop their treatment mid-way. Not with toothsi aligners, no way Hozay! That’s another reason for you to smile already :)
Hygiene
Bad breath on a date can be such a turn off! We feel you. With metal braces, cleaning your teeth and maintaining oral hygiene can be tough. Few parts of your teeth are hidden. It's difficult to clean every nook or under every bracket. And you know what that means - poor oral hygiene which can be injurious to your health and social life. But worry not, toothsi is here to save your day. Yay!
know more about braces
are braces painful?
Unfortunately, yes. Braces can be painful, especially during the fitting and tightening sessions. This pain may also restrict jaw movements such as eating food, sipping, drinking water, etc. However, this is only for a short amount of time. But, it is important to note that braces and their wires may bruise the inner side of your cheeks.
how much do braces cost in India?
The cost of braces in India depends on various factors such as the duration of your treatment, and braces of choice such as metal, ceramic or even clear aligners. The prices will be anywhere in the range mentioned below:
Braces prices with their types:
- Metal Braces: Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 (without retainers)
- Ceramic Braces: Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 Lakh (without retainers)
- Invisible Aligner: Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 (without retainers)
what age is best for braces for teeth?
It’s a common misconception that pre-teen or teenage years are the best ages to get braces or clips for teeth, while in reality, even adults can opt for braces.
With that being said, smile correction treatment with the likes of traditional metal braces, transparent braces, ceramic braces & lingual braces can be started as early as the age of seven and there isn’t any upper age limit for it.
what can you eat with braces?
Once you get braces it is best to eat soft foods that do not require hard biting or chewing. They are as follows:
Soft grains
Cooked vegetables
Soups
Soft fruits
You must avoid eating chewy, crunchy, sticky and hard foods such as corn, and apples which require you to bite into them.
how quickly do teeth move with braces?
Once the orthodontist has fixed the braces on your teeth, they will gradually start moving. Once the treatment starts your teeth will move daily with braces, but you will see a visible difference only after 2-3 months of application
how do teeth braces work step by step?
Braces are fixed onto your teeth with brackets and archwires that apply gentle pressure for your teeth to move in the desired position. The process of braces treatment can be divided into 5 steps.
Step 1: Consultation
Here you take the orthodontist appointment where your issue is diagnosed and required treatment is fixed with parameters such as duration, braces type and cost.
Step 2: Bonding
This is where the orthodontist will place the braces onto your teeth. This involves the brackets, elastics and archwires with regard to traditional braces. For clear aligners, you only need to place your customised tray onto your teeth.
Step 3: Adjustments
This is the stage where each month there are regular adjustments and repairs are done. Braces are checked for any wear and tear and clear aligners are checked for their accuracy during the treatment.
Step 4: Debonding
Here, all the braces are removed and the teeth are cleaned and polished.
Step 5: Retainers
It is important to make the teeth stay in their new positions. This is where retainers help you. Here retainers are fixed to maintain the position of your teeth. These retainers are to be worn for a couple of years to avoid any relapse.
what are the 2 types of braces for teeth?
The two types of braces or clips for teeth are:
1. Fixed Braces
As the names suggest, fixed braces are glued to your teeth and can only be removed by your orthodontist.
2. Removable Braces
Removable braces, also known as clear aligners or invisible braces, give you the freedom to remove them while you’re eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. These are customised as per your jaw and give you the freedom to wear or remove them anytime.
what is the post-treatment care for braces?
Below listed are the post-treatment care pointers you need to know:
Wearing retainers: After your treatment is done and the braces are off, you need to wear the retainers provided to you to stop your teeth from moving back to their initial position when the treatment has begun.
Teeth whitening Treatment: During the course of your treatment it is highly possible that your teeth will get stained due to foods and drinks like turmeric, tomato paste and coloured sodas. So don’t be surprised if you’ve got yellow-stained teeth once your braces come off. You can try teeth whitening treatment options like our spark teeth whitening kit & spark teeth whitening pen.
Follow good oral hygiene: This one’s a no-brainer. Following good oral hygiene will help you maintain the picture-perfect smile you’ve endured so much pain, discomfort, and inconvenience for.
Brush & floss: Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. Also, don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.
Maintain retainers: Make cleaning your retainers a part of your daily routine
Rinse after Eating/Drinking: Rinse your mouth with water after you eat anything sugary and after coffee, tea, and other stain-causing foods to keep your teeth white & stain-free!
what are the 2 components of braces?
The two main components of braces are:
Brackets: These are traditionally made of metal, but can be made of porcelain or ceramic in case of ceramic braces & transparent braces. Brackets are glued onto your teeth individually and can only be taken off at the end of the treatment by your orthodontist.
Archwires: These are inserted into the brackets, acting as a connecting link between them.
do braces change your face?
Yes, braces can change your face! Braces work by placing pressure on the teeth and jaws to move them into a more desirable position. This pressure causes changes in the jaw shape and structure over time which will alter your facial appearance.
Braces can help give you a well-defined chin or firm jawline due to correcting misaligned bite patterns that cause issues like an improper jaw position or deep overbites or underbites. Such orthodontic improvement works to bring balance between the upper and lower halves of the face while strengthening weak areas of the lower half such as a receding chin or weak mandible definition (jawbone area). Ultimately, several corrections occur when wearing braces that contribute towards perceived changes in one’s facial features—including better symmetry/alignment of features, and stronger definition in lower face regions like chin/jawline area.
How do you brush with braces?
Brushing with braces can be a tricky task. The best approach for brushing with braces is to use three different steps:
Step 1: Brush thoroughly around the brackets and rubber bands. start by using a medium-soft toothbrush that has been designed specifically for people with braces. Start by placing the bristles of your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle near where the gum line meets your brace wires and gently work up in circles over each wire until you cover all areas around all of your brackets. Move to the next area on another wire until you have thoroughly cleaned all of them.
Step 2: Floss between each bracket. Using unflavored dental tape or waxed dental floss, slide it between each pair of neighbouring brackets while applying gentle pressure against both sides. This will help dislodge any food particles attached to them which could lead to bacteria build-up if left unchecked.
Step 3: Use an interdental brush or small toothbrush to clean the spaces in between your teeth. When brushing near spaces in between teeth make sure to reach those spots with either an interdental brush or even a small toothbrush so that they too are free from plaque accumulation as much as possible before their removal date arrives.
do braces change how you talk?
Yes, braces can affect how you talk. The most common way that braces can alter speech is by changing the shape of the palate, which impacts how certain sounds are made. As the brackets and archwires of traditional metal braces move teeth into their desired positions, this causes changes to the underlying bone structure, leading to the altered articulation of certain sounds.
Patients with braces may experience difficulty pronouncing words such as ‘s’ or ‘sh’ as these sounds are created in part through contact between the tongue and teeth - something that can be hindered by having a foreign object like a metal bracket in between them.
Fortunately, there are ways to make it easier for people with braces to get comfortable speaking again such as using wax on any parts where lips or cheeks touch metal components or practising specific exercises recommended by an orthodontist (e.g., swallowing repeatedly at different stages during pronunciation). Once these methods have been practised enough for comfort, speaking should return to its former clarity!
Can I kiss with braces?
Yes, you can kiss with braces. However, that doesn't mean that it won't be uncomfortable or awkward!
Braces are designed to help correct and align your teeth, so when kissing with them on, there may be a higher chance of encountering some metal brackets or wires which may cause discomfort. To reduce the amount of discomfort during kissing while wearing braces, consider using an Orthodontic Wax to cover up any possible sharp edges on the metal parts.
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