How to keep your teeth straight after braces

How to keep your smile straight after braces or Invisalign®

Few things are as exciting as the moment you get your braces off or finish your Invisalign treatment and get to see your new smile for the first time – but hold your horses, as you’re not quite out of the woods yet! At Charlottesville Orthodontics, we’re proud to help patients all over the greater Charlottesville, VA, area achieve gorgeous new smiles through orthodontic treatment, but we also understand that post-treatment care matters just as much. Here are a few simple tips to help you keep your teeth straight long after you finish your treatment with braces or Invisalign.

How to protect your smile after orthodontic treatment

After finishing treatment, your teeth will be in new positions. The only problem is that the periodontal ligament, which supports the teeth, will have yet to adjust to those new positions. This means that left alone, your teeth will simply regress to their old positions and erase your hard work! Thankfully, though, it’s easy to keep your teeth straight after orthodontic treatment. Here are a few simple methods:

  • Wear your retainers: When we take your braces off, we’ll fit you with orthodontic retainers. These appliances serve to hold your teeth in place long enough for your mouth to adjust to the new alignment, giving your smile a chance to “set” into place and protect it for the long term. Wearing your retainers for the prescribed amount is critical to keeping your teeth straight after treatment.
  • Practice oral hygiene: In addition to alignment, it’s important to protect your teeth from problems like dental decay and cavities. You should maintain rigorous oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily, as this will help protect your teeth from decay.
  • Visit your dentist: Finally, don’t forget to visit your dentist for check-ups and cleaning appointments once every 6 months. These appointments provide a vital deep clean to remove tartar and plaque deposits, and they also allow your dentist to track your smile over time and catch any problems that might come up.

Schedule a consultation for braces in Charlottesville, VA

Achieving a new smile with braces or Invisalign is an investment in your best asset, and taking good care of it after treatment means that investment will pay off for a lifetime. At our practice, we’re proud to design personalized treatment plans that help our patients achieve a dream smile through treatment that works for them. Want to see how we can revolutionize your smile? Take the first step: use our easy online form to request a consultation today!