When dealing with your teeth, the last thing you want to do is try to rush correcting their positions in your jaw. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get to the finish line more quickly when you start braces. By staying disciplined and taking advantage of the latest orthodontic technology, you can reveal your new smile in less time!
Keep Your Appointments
One of the simplest ways to ensure your treatment stays on schedule is to always make it to appointments. While this may seem easy enough, it’s also very easy to overlook conflicts in your schedule when booking appointments or to simply forget about an appointment. Because of this, you should always double-check your calendar when booking your next checkup and set yourself some reminders.
It’s also a good idea to schedule your next checkup as soon as you can, ideally immediately after you get out of an appointment. This way, you can secure a spot that works for you and won’t cause any delays in your treatment.
Protect Your Braces
Accidentally damaging your braces is another common cause of delays in finishing orthodontic treatment. If you damage your brackets or wires, it’s important to get into the orthodontist’s office as soon as possible. Not only will any delays in repairing your braces push back the completion date of treatment, but the damaged braces themselves can be quite uncomfortable.
One of the easiest ways to avoid damaging your braces is to stick to your diet guidelines for orthodontic treatment. Hard and crunchy foods like nuts, granola, or jerky won’t be suitable for braces. You’ll also want to avoid sticky foods like taffy or caramel. One way to avoid damaging your braces with the food you eat is to get used to eating meals that include braces-friendly foods a couple of weeks before you get your braces. This gives you some time to figure out a good meal plan and to be ready.
You should also get an orthodontic mouthguard after getting your braces if you play sports like football, basketball, or other activities where contact is likely.
Propel ProV
While it used to be that the only way to speed up orthodontic treatment was to simply not delay it, you can now get to the end of treatment faster using clever technology. One exciting innovation is the Propel ProV system, which is an at-home device that delivers finely-tuned vibrations to your teeth and jaw.
All you have to do is apply the device to your teeth for five minutes per day when it’s convenient for you. Using this system, you can complete treatment up to 50% faster compared to conventional treatment. This means you’ll see your new smile much sooner. And with less time in braces, there will be less of an opportunity to potentially damage your braces and experience more delays.
Switch to Invisalign
Another great way to get rid of your braces faster is to switch to Invisalign. At Smith Orthodontics, we offer our patients the ability to use Invisalign for the last few months of their treatment if they wish. This option is great for people who want a clear smile for an upcoming wedding, school pictures, or job interviews as they get ready to graduate from college. As always, you will want to consult with your orthodontist to ensure this is the right decision for your smile.
To learn more about braces and Propel, and to see if orthodontic treatment is right for you, contact Smith Orthodontics today and schedule your free consultation!
