How Braces Work

Your braces may not look like they're doing much, just sitting there in your mouth, but actually, there is something happening in your mouth every moment of your treatment.  Picture your teeth resting in your jawbone.  Your braces put pressure on one side of your teeth, and the bone on the other side gives way.  The tooth moves and new bone grows in behind.  It may look like nothing is happening, but your braces are building you a new smile!  Braces use steady, gentle pressure over time to move your teeth into a more pleasing, healthy position.  The two main components of your braces are brackets and the main arch wire that is attached to them.  The bracket is a piece of metal or ceramic that is affixed to each tooth.  The arch wire is bent to reflect your ideal bite - the way your teeth should look after treatment.  the arch wire is threaded through the brackets and as the wire tries to return to that ideal shape, it applies pressure to make your teeth move.

Rubber Bands

The rubber bands that we ask you to wear on your braces are very important.  they contribute greatly to straighter teeth.  Rubber bands create the right amount of pressure to move teeth in directions that braces can't.  It's important to wear your rubber bands as prescribed and to change them every day, so  that the force on your teeth is constant.  Forgetting to wear your rubber bands, or not changing them consistently, can make your treatment take longer.

Number of Braces Wearers

At any one time, approximately 4 million people in the United States are wearing braces.  About 25 percent of these orthodontic patients are adults!

First Visit

Your child will probably be apprehensive about coming to see us for braces.  Assure him/her that nothing Dr. Crowder does on the first visit will hurt.

Braces Covers

Ask our staff about our brace covers!  Brace covers go over your new braces to prevent your lips from getting sore while your mouth adjusts to the brackets.

Playing Musical Instruments

Be sure to mention your child's musical abilities to the doctor. Dr. Crowder can give your child special "covers" for braces that will allow them to play their musical instrument, without irritation.

Eat Softer Foods

For the first few days after you get your braces, we recommend that you eat softer foods.  After that, you can eat most of the healthy foods you eat now.  Dr. Crowder will provide you with a no-no list of foods and snacks that could damage your braces.

Damon Braces

Damon braces are smaller and more comfortable than the old-fashioned braces.  They have a low profile design, which is less irritating to the lips, and special contours to make orthodontic treatment go faster.

You can still talk with Braces!

In most instances, braces will not affect your ability to talk, sing, eat, play most sports, or have fun

Always wear your rubber bands

Rubber bands are extremely important to the success of your orthodontic treatment.  Not wearing them as directed could delay your treatment up to 1 year.  We encourage patients to wear their rubber bands following the schedule Dr. Crowder provides, and change them frequently.

What rubber bands do

The rubber bands often used on braces are there to make your teeth in you lower jaw line up with the teeth in your upper jaw.

Rubber bands will snap

Orthodontic rubber bands will break after they have been chewed a few times.  To avoid the pain when they snap, change your rubber bands frequently.

Changing rubber bands at mealtimes

We recommend you take the rubber bands off your braces before each meal and put on new ones after eating.

Chewing gum

Talk to us before chewing gum with your new braces.  Gum can get caught and pull the brackets off, and sugar can get trapped and cause cavities.  However, Dr. Crowder may suggest that you chew a nonstick, SUGAR FREE gum.  The chewing motion will help to work out the initial soreness after your appointment.  The American Journal of Orthodontics indicates that the xylitol in some gum helps prevent cavities.

Eating sticky foods

You should not eat hard, sticky, gooey or crunchy foods while wearing braces.  You can pull or knock the braces off your teeth.

Bite-sized snacks

Although it is possible to eat almost anything with braces, it's a good idea to cut harder foods into bite-sized pieces first.  Biting into whole raw fruits and vegetables, French bread, and other crunchy snacks could loosen the wires and brackets on your braces.

When braces come loose

If you pull or knock your braces off, call our office.  We can reattach them.  But be careful, if this happens too often, your treatment will take longer.

Removable appliances

Sometimes it is possible to treat orthodontic problems with removable appliances.  Unlike conventional braces, removable appliances apply pressure to different parts of your jaw.  Ask Dr. Crowder whether removable appliances would work for you.

When braces hurt

Most orthodontic patients experience some pain the first few days after the braces are put on, and right after the wire has been changed.  Talk to us if your braces continue to hurt after the first week.

Brushing with braces

Brushing and flossing is especially important when you wear braces.  Food can get caught in the braces and cause cavities.  There are many special brushes and flosses designed to work with braces.  While braces cover some tooth surfaces, plaque will continue to form as usual on the exposed parts of your teeth.  Enamel decalcification is a process that leaves permanent white stains where braces have been attached if a patient fails to brush regularly.

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