Some braces questions?!
Question: So I've been wearing my braces for less than a week. My orthodontist said that I should have them for about 2 years. The receptionist (who is friends with my mother) said that it'll most likely be 18 months. A friend of mine also told me that the same ortho told her 2 years, but that he generally goes very fast and she had hers off in 1 1/2 years.
I just have a few questions:
- What can I do to get them off quicker?
- Is it okay to use Crest Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse while the braces are on?
-- What exactly do the rubber bands do? How long do people usually have to wear them?
Answers: So I've been wearing my braces for less than a week. My orthodontist said that I should have them for about 2 years. The receptionist (who is friends with my mother) said that it'll most likely be 18 months. A friend of mine also told me that the same ortho told her 2 years, but that he generally goes very fast and she had hers off in 1 1/2 years.
I just have a few questions:
- What can I do to get them off quicker?
- Is it okay to use Crest Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse while the braces are on?
-- What exactly do the rubber bands do? How long do people usually have to wear them?
Ok, in order:
1. Well, i got my braces off a heck of a lot earlier than the orthodontist said. wear the rubber bands, make appointments 3-4 weeks after each other (don't skip them!) and don't eat the "forbidden" foods (candy apples, really sticky gum, etc.)
2. I believe its ok to use a whitening paste, because thats what i did and i was fine, but i don't know about a "rinse." i had braces for 2 and a half years. my teeth didnt come out discolored, but i didnt use a heavy whitening paste or anything.
3. the rubber bands are a fast/effective way to pull your teeth over to one side/ towards the middle. they are used to speed up the process of actually "moving" your teeth. depending on the strength, you may have to wear them anywheres between 1-4 months (if you wear them at the times your ortho told you, you may only have to wear them for 1-2 months, or even faster if its a small shifting needed.)
they are painful, but worth it, because if you wear them properly, you may get your braces off 6 months early!
best of results to you.
Yes, they can come off sooner by following all the directions the ortho gives you and paying them off as soon as possible.
Do not use whitening anything while on braces, it can discolor your teeth so that when they are removed you have square-like glue spots left from the braces adhesive.
The rubber bands move your teeth faster and give better resistance than just the bands by themselves.
i have braces too. mine has to be worn for two and a half years (ugh!). it depends on everyone's teeth. if their teeth used to be okay, it'll take a shorter period.
okay, after a few months, the orthodontist will give you this rubber band thing. they help your teeth to "shift" faster. if you wear them only half a day or only when you sleep, it's not really effective. or that's what my orthodontist said. so i usually try to keep them on for a whole day, except when i'm eating, bath, etc
lol crest whitening? sorry idk what that is :s