Tag Archives: stmichaelsorthodontics

10 things you need to know when you’ve had your brace fit

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  • It is normal to experience a mild aching in your teeth. If you experience excessive pain contact the practice for advice.
  • During treatment one or two teeth may feel bruised to bite on or feel like they are in the way of your bite.
  • Gaps in your teeth may increase as teeth as moved into their new positions, this is nothing to be concerned about all the gaps will be closed as the teeth are aligned.
  • If any of the square brackets which are stuck to each individual tooth slide or spin on the wire the brace has broken, you will need to telephone the practice to get it repaired.
  • If any metal parts of the brace rub you can cover these with wax until your lips and cheeks toughen up. Wax can be bought at any orthodontic practice.
  • Occasionally the wires may twist and rub cheeks. This will need correcting by your orthodontist as wax will only offer a temporary relief for it. If anything suddenly feels sharp or like it is ‘sticking in’ contact the reception staff for an appointment.
  • Delaying repairs can add weeks to the duration of your treatment.
  • We will work hard to align your teeth but your perfect smile also depends on good oral hygiene! An effective tooth brushing regime is essential throughout treatment to avoid the white ‘chalky stains’ known as decalcification. This is irreversible but easily avoided by ensuring time is taken to remove all plaque using the specific oral hygiene products recommended by your orthodontist. Visit http://beta.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/6-essential-steps-for-good-oral-hygiene-2/ for more advice.
  • Adjustments to your diet will be necessary during treatment. Sugary foods and drinks should be avoided; this includes ‘low sugar’ varieties of drinks! Sticky and hard foods can damage the brace; this will mean added appointment time and possible delays to the progress of your treatment.
  • During treatment it is essential to continue regular check-ups with your dentist and inform us if you change practices.
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4 benefits of straighter teeth

4 benefits of straighter teeth

Many people believe that having orthodontic treatment will only improve your appearance, but a straighter smile will not only improve a person’s confidence but will also improve your oral health, eating and any speech problems. Having a great smile is something the majority of the population want but don’t think is achievable. Their wrong, it’s so straight forward! There are a number of treatment options to correct your problems. A quick chat with your orthodontist is all it takes; they will go through all the different treatment options available and will then decide which is the most suitable for you.

  • A major reason people seek orthodontic treatment is for a much more attractive smile. Smiling more often with an improved smile will build a person’s confidence and will have a huge impact on how others perceive you. We do live in a very image conscious society and impressions are made very quickly. If you are worried about what impression you will make because of the way your teeth appear, orthodontic treatment is the way forward. Having an attractive smile is a great asset and it is amazing how improving this will change the way people look at you.
  • Another benefit to having orthodontic treatment is to improve your oral health. Having crooked teeth may cause difficulty when cleaning as it can be a lot harder to get your toothbrush and floss in-between teeth that overlap. Misaligned teeth which are harder to clean will lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria. This can cause gum problems and decay which may then result in the loss of teeth.
    Halitosis (bad breath) appears when bacteria grow in your mouth. You can avoid this from developing by cleaning your teeth regularly and more efficiently. This would be much easier to achieve with straighter teeth. Straight teeth are not only a beautiful smile but a healthier one as well. A straight set of teeth signals a much healthier mouth which can alter the way others perceive you.
  • Crooked teeth may also cause eating and chewing problems. Straightening your teeth to improve day to day tasks such as eating is one of the four benefits of having orthodontic treatment. As mentioned before, Halitosis can develop in the mouth. If there is a tendency to have difficulty removing food when cleaning, then the amount of bacteria growing will increase leading to bad breath developing. Food may get trapped in between gaps in the teeth and may not be fully removed when cleaning. If bacteria and plaque increases due to food packing, gum problems may also appear causing irritation. Straight teeth will eliminate any gaps present therefore reducing the amount of food trapping, bacteria growth and gum problems.
  • Finally, misaligned teeth may contribute to speech impediments. This can lower a person’s confidence, self esteem and can affect your daily routine such as school, work and your personal life. Diastemas (gaps in your front teeth) may cause a whistle when speaking to appear and speech problems. Clearer speech naturally improves confidence and can make a person smile much more often. Smiles are a big part of our identity and can alter the impression we give out to people.

It is proven that having straighter teeth will improve a person’s confidence. A recent audit carried out by the team at St Michaels Orthodontics Ltd showed that almost 99% of patients that completed orthodontic treatment felt that a straighter smile improved their self confidence and would also highly recommend treatment to others. It also showed that ¾ of the patients asked felt that cleaning and their general oral health also improved.

It is never too late for your perfect smile!

Visit beta.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk or call our experts on 01924380680 for more information

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One in four Brits unhappy with their smile

Great article by the British Dental Health Foundation

British Dental Health Foundation

Smile and the world smiles with you as the saying goes, but for more than a quarter of Brits who are unhappy with their smiles this may not be the case.

New research by the British Dental Health Foundation and Invisalign shows that for more than a quarter (27 per cent) of us who are unhappy with our smiles, it has a detrimental effect on confidence and relationships.

Three quarters of people said their confidence would improve if they had a smile, and almost half (44 per cent) reveal that being unhappy with their smile keeps their confidence low. Perhaps surprisingly one in ten say it has affected their relationships.

Almost three in four (70 per cent) say they are so unhappy with their smile, they never smile in photos, and rather surprisingly it’s the guys more so than the girls who can’t stand to see a photo of themselves with their teeth on show.

What’s more, one in three men (34 per cent) say they retouch every selfie compared with only one in eight (13 per cent) of females.

Dr Carter said: “Improving our smile is something that can be done at any age and with the emotional and proven health benefits of having a healthy smile clear, it’s never too late to do something about yours.

“It can be the first thing you notice about a person, and it certainly creates a good first impression. That is why getting the basics right can go a long way.

“Brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often you eat and drink sugary foods and drinks and visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, will help develop good oral health. Other habits such as chewing sugar-free gum after meals and using interdental brushes can also improve your oral health.”

Jamie Morley, UK & Ireland General Manager at Invisalign, added: “Working with over 2.5 million people worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is dedicated to improving oral health. There is a wealth of evidence that non-invasive treatments are becoming more popular as people seek to improve their smiles and their oral health.”

Want to improve your smile? We can
help http://beta.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/

Article published on http://www.dentalhealth.org/news/details/798

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