While the pursuit of a picture-perfect set of teeth may be a painful struggle for some, pain may be a worthwhile sacrifice for beauty after all. And to that end, many were willing to bear with the painful process of wearing braces in the distant past.
Now, with modern technology stepping in to ease the process, and offerings such as invisalign or clear braces, the experience is far less agonizing. Though it does take some time, here are some habits to get rid of if you don’t want to end up prolonging the duration needed:
Grinding Your Teeth
It’s rather common for bad habits to follow us from infancy to adulthood, and there’s nothing wrong with that if they do you no harm. That is unless your habit is grinding or clenching your teeth. Whether you do it consciously or in your sleep, frequently doing so gradually wears down your teeth, and could lead to further problems down the road such as tooth fractures or the loss of fillings in your teeth. Chronic grinding of teeth can even cause your teeth to loosen due to overload, or shift out of alignment—undoing the hard work your braces have done.
Brushing Too Hard
If your idea of getting your teeth to look sparkling white is by brushing aggressively, then you’ve got your facts all wrong. Brushing too hard can lead to problems like enamel wear—abrading away the white and glossy coating on your teeth, in addition to receding gums. This causes your teeth to look more yellowish and dark, making you likelier to develop sensitive teeth in the future. If you have braces on, too much force may also end up damaging the brackets or wires as well.
On the other hand, brushing too softly does not get the debris out. There must be adequate toothbrush pressure at the right angle, and the right spot, to do a good job. Once an area has been cleaned, move the toothbrush to another area so as not to over-brush a spot that is already clean.
Not Wearing a Mouthguard
For most contact sports, there is often a risk of collision or accidental injury. While visiting an orthodontist can get you fixed in a jiffy,wearing a mouthguard can help prevent severe injuries to the teeth, jaw and gums without hampering your ability to play. It goes without saying that if you get injured with braces on, it’s not going to be a pretty sight.
The utmost priority among many orthodontic patients is usually to figure out the answer to the question of ‘How much do braces cost in Singapore‘. While is certainly isn’t cheap, paying to get your braces repaired makes it even more of an unnecessary expense.
Consider the fact that buying a simple, inexpensive mouthguard can eventually save you thousands of dollars of dental/medical bills. With that in mind, isn’t it a worthwhile investment? Moreover, surprisingly enough, if you do grind your teeth while asleep as mentioned before, a night-guard can be the solution to your troubles as well.
Chewing Habits
Ever find yourself chewing on ice when the weather is sweltering hot? Or biting your nails when you’re stressed? Maybe you unconsciously chew on the end of your pen or pencil when you’re deep in thought. If you find yourself agreeing with one or more of these examples, then it’s high time for you to break the habit. These bad chewing habits can end up causing your teeth to chip or crack and irritate the soft tissues around your teeth. And if you somehow do so with braces on, the chances of you damaging your braces or your teeth is rather high.
Summary
Habits can be hard to break but it’s best to rid yourself of these ones before they cost you even more money and time. With that said, if you do end up having troubles with your teeth, don’t hesitate in finding a recommended and good orthodontist in Singapore to go to.
Location
10 Sinaran Drive, #11-18
Novena Medical Centre
Singapore 307506