How Long Can You Go Without Adjusting Your Braces?

A straight set of teeth helps us with a stunning smile which is everyone’s dream. This dream is well within reach as you can get braces fitted by an orthodontist to align your teeth in their desired positions. 

But braces are not something you can fit and forget, i.e., it is not a one-time fitting that your orthodontist puts on you, and then you can go away for the magic to take place. You need regular visits, reviews, and adjustments of these brackets to align your teeth effectively.

Braces tightening has a vast significance on the efficacy of your orthodontic treatment. The gentle pressure of the brackets on your teeth helps them move and shift into their proper positions. So, each time your teeth shift, the brackets lose their grip over them. Hence, getting them tightened at the scheduled time with your doctor is essential.

So, the question is how often you visit the orthodontist to tighten the appliance and what to expect during and after the adjustments are made. This article will explore the significance of brace tightening or adjustment in your journey toward a dazzling smile.

The Process of Adjusting Braces

The steps mentioned below will give you an idea of what happens when you go for the adjustment of your orthodontic cases:

• First step – Your doctor would remove the elastics or ligatures that connect your braces to wire and archwire.
• Second step – Your orthodontist would allow you to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth without wires and elastics hindering the process.
• Third step – The orthodontist would then review the treatment progress by examining how much your teeth have repositioned. If needed, your doctor might change the archwire.
• Fourth step – Lastly, the orthodontist will connect back braces to your teeth with the help of new elastics.

Why Should I Get My Braces Adjusted?

Metal brackets apply slow and steady pressure on our teeth to move them in their desired direction. It might take months and years to achieve the result, depending on how misaligned or crooked your teeth are.

• The pressure applied by braces improves the jaw shape and the orientation of your teeth, but it works only when the braces are adjusted at regular intervals.
• Once your teeth shift to a certain amount in a few weeks, the wires that exert pressure on them become loose and ineffective in moving the teeth further as the pressure diminishes. Hence, your orthodontist needs to tighten the wires occasionally so that the realignment process continues without any halts.

How Often Should I Get My Braces Tightened?

If you want to finish your treatment in time, there are two vital things to note. The first one is to go for regular visits as your dentist recommends so that s/he can make adjustments and address all oral challenges. The second is to wear your elastics for at least twenty-two hours daily.

• Though each patient and their needs are different, you need to have your brackets adjusted every four to six weeks.
• Your orthodontist is the best person to tell you when the braces will be adjusted, as the treatment is customized for each patient. Your doctor might call you sooner or later based on your case.
• If you feel your braces are losing their grip, you must contact your orthodontist’s office even if your scheduled date is further down. You can tell if your braces are loose when you do not feel any pressure while you eat.
• If you skip your appointment for the adjustments, it will not harm your teeth, but you will add extra time to your current treatment plan.

What Oral Health Issues Can I Have If I Miss My Appointments

You may encounter oral hygiene issues if you miss your scheduled appointments.

• When you visit your dentist, he can assess your oral health and suggest treatment for any issues.
• Missing appointments would delay your alignment process.
• Brushing can become tricky when you miss appointments as bits of food will get stuck to teeth more often.
• If you wear your brackets for too long, nerve damage is possible. Your orthodontist can look for this potential problem if you visit them regularly.
• If you are not getting your teeth straightening device checked regularly, you could have snapped wires or brackets, causing teeth to move in unwanted directions.

What to Expect After Brackets Are Tightened

• After adjusting your brackets, you could experience some sensitivity in your jaws, teeth, and gums for a few days.
• The pain is mild, tolerable, and feels like you bruised your teeth but not a throbbing toothache.
• This pain or discomfort would last only a day or two.
• Sticking to soft food for a couple of days after tightening your braces is a good idea.
• You can eat soups, smoothies, mashed potatoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, soft pasta dishes, soft fruits (banana, pawpaw, etc.), rice pudding, or porridge.

Braces are not something you fix one day and forget for the rest of the treatment period. You need to visit your orthodontist regularly (every four to six weeks) to have them tightened and also find out if you have any oral issues which can be rectified in time.