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Retainers are an effective way to maintain your new and improved smile after getting South Houston braces. Many patients ask if they’re required to wear retainers after their orthodontic treatment. The answer is yes. Whether the patient is a child or adult, retainers are an essential part to getting your ideal set of teeth.

Why Do I Need Retainers After Braces?

After your South Houston braces are removed, your teeth have not yet fully set in. Your gums and ligaments that hold your teeth together are still tender for months and even years after braces. This means that your teeth could easily realign and go back to their old position before braces. To prevent your teeth from moving, retainers are a necessity. If you don’t wear retainers, you could lose the beautiful new smile that you waited so long for.

How Long Should I Wear Retainers?

The length of time you should wear your retainers is usually relative to how long you wore South Houston braces for. In other words, patients who wore braces longer may need to wear retainers longer than others with short treatments. Your South Houston dentist will determine how long to wear your retainers. This can last anywhere between 4 months to 2 years—or even more in serious cases. 

What Are the Types of Retainers?

There are two types of retainers for your orthodontic treatment. The first type is the permanent or fixed retainer, which is a thin wire installed in the back of your teeth. As the name suggests, this type of retainer cannot be removed by the patient. The other type is a removable retainer made of clear, molded plastic. Your dentist may require you to come in for regular visits to adjust your removable retainer. The advantage of it is that you can take it off when eating and taking pictures,

How to Care for My Retainers?

Since retainers are inside your mouth at all times, bacteria and plaque can build up on them. Retainer care is important for your oral health. Just like brushing your teeth, you must clean your retainers twice a day. Take out your retainers and rinse them with warm water. Use liquid soap and a brush or cloth to clean all the nooks and corners of your retainers before rinsing them. Be careful not to eat anything too hard or sticky when wearing your retainers so that you don’t damage them.

Schedule a Visit for South Houston Braces Today

Looking for a dental clinic where you can get quality South Houston braces treatment? At Centra Dental, we embrace your smiles. Our top-rated dentist performs all vital services, such as teeth cleaning, fillings, and crowns. We have a clean and safe facility where we sanitize all our equipment thoroughly. Surgically clean air circulates our clinic the entire time. Why Centra Dental? We strive to give you the best dental experience possible. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

Everyone deserves a beautiful smile. If you aren’t confident about yours, dental braces can soon change that. Orthodontic treatment enhances your teeth’s cosmetics or how they look, as well as your oral health or how you feel. Houston braces are available in different types, such as metal braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign. Whichever type you choose, as long as you’re diligent about your dental visits, you’d enjoy the benefits of dental braces.

Corrects Misaligned Teeth

Do you find yourself smiling with your mouth closed or covering your mouth when you laugh? Perhaps it’s because of crooked or misaligned teeth? Don’t worry; Houston braces are an effective way to fix these types of dental issues. They reposition your teeth using force until you achieve the desired outcome.

Treats Spacing Issues

Overcrowding occurs when there isn’t enough space in your mouth, causing your teeth to gather in an undesired way. On the other hand, too much space in your mouth leads to gaps where bacteria can grow. Visit your Houston dentist to diagnose these problems and start you on your treatment with braces.

Fixes Bite Problems

Patients with underbites and overbites have difficulty chewing, talking, and even breathing. They are also aesthetically undesirable, leaving people with self-esteem issues. Improve the way you look and feel through Houston braces. They are an effective treatment for all types of bite bite problems.

Enhances Oral Health

Aside from their cosmetic value, Houston braces address health concerns that could be affecting your entire life. We sometimes take basic functions, such as eating and breathing, for granted. Patients with dental problems mentioned above are at-risk for oral injuries. Braces can improve the quality of their lives by reducing conditions like sleep apnea and snoring.

Timely and Effective Treatment

Houston braces are not that big of a nuisance in your daily life, considering the benefits you gain from them. Visit your Houston family dentist at least once a month to keep you on track. Remember to care for your braces to prevent damaging them and throwing off your progress. The average duration of your treatment is around 2 years, depending on the severity of your condition. Braces have been around for a long time, and as such, the technology is a proven way to fix your dental issues. 

Schedule a Visit for Houston Braces Today!

Whether you need Houston braces to achieve a more confident look or to improve your oral health, you can get your desired results at Centra Dental. We embrace your smiles. Our top-rated South Houston dentist offers a range of vital services, including root canals, whitening, and general cleaning. We have a clean and safe facility to make sure your dental experience is stress-free and pleasant. Surgically clean air circulates all throughout our office. While waiting, the whole family can watch movies, play with toys, and connect to our WiFi. Ask us about our dental service specials and accepted insurance! We look forward to serving you.

Everyone deserves a beautiful smile, no matter what age. South Houston braces aren’t just for children and teens—adults get them too to achieve straighter teeth and improve their oral health. Orthodontic treatment is an effective way of fixing a range of dental issues. But as an adult, you prefer to have a more discreet option other than traditional metal braces. That’s where Invisalign comes in.

What Is Invisalign?

Made from nontoxic, medical-grade plastic, Invisalign is a clear aligner. It is a patented technology that corrects mild to moderate cases of misalignment, crooked teeth, overcrowding, overspacing, and even bite issues. The average duration of treatment is 12 to 18 months or as deemed essential by your South Houston dentist.

Less Conspicuous Than Metal Braces

The most sought-after benefit of Invisalign is how discreet it is compared to metal or ceramic South Houston braces. Since it is made from clear plastic, it isn’t as noticeable when you talk or smile. This is especially appealing to adults who don’t want a drastic change to their everyday look.

Customized to Your Needs

When you go in for your first visit, your dentist will take a 3D impression of your teeth and send this to the lab to create your South Houston Invisalign. This ensures that your aligners are designed specifically for you, thus, your treatment is more effective. 

Ensures Consistent Progress

With Invisalign treatment, you visit your dentist at 2-week intervals usually. Every time you come in, new aligners are fitted for you since your teeth have repositioned the last time you were there. This means that your progress is always on track until the end where you get the ideal results.

Can Be Removed

Another perk of having Invisalign is getting to remove them when the need arises. This is practical for special occasions like photoshoots and events. You can also remove them yourself if you want to eat food that is usually avoided if you have metal braces, such as sticky and hard treats. Keep in mind, however, you must wear your Invisalign for 20 to 22 hours a day for your treatment to be effective.

Offers More Comfort

Some patients complain that South Houston metal braces hurt their mouth or are painful the first few days after adjustment. With Invisalign, you get more comfort. There are no sharp brackets or wires to graze the inside of your mouth.

Schedule a Consultation for South Houston Braces Today!

Interested in Invisalign and the benefits it has to offer! Schedule a consultation with our top-rated dentists at Centra Dental. Here at our clinic, we embrace your smiles. We offer all vital dental services, such as South Houston braces, general cleaning, crowns, root canals, and more. You will have a pleasant and stress-free experience at our clean and safe facility. We have surgically clean air circulating the entire time to protect our staff and patients. Feel free to ask us about our dental service specials and insurance we accept. We look forward to hearing from you!

While braces are an effective way to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, they come with sacrifices regarding your diet. Houston braces correct crooked or misaligned teeth as well as bite issues, but only if you’re disciplined in caring for them. One important aspect of orthodontic maintenance is being mindful of the things you eat. Whether you’re wearing metal or Houston ceramic braces, you could damage them if you aren’t careful about the following types of food.

Food That Gets Stuck

Since braces are composed of tiny brackets and wires, food gets easily stuck in practically any corner. Avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn, as they can settle in areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. Food that gets stuck in your Houston braces means creating a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria are what cause cavities, tartar, and other tooth caries.

Food That Is Sticky

Examples of sticky food that your Houston dentist will tell you to avoid are chewing gum, candy, taffy, and licorice. If you have a sweet tooth for these treats, it’s time you consume them in moderation. Especially for children, it’s important to remind them to brush their teeth immediately after eating these sticky delights. As a parent, you can offer them only after mealtime instead of serving them as a snack.

Food That Is Too Crunchy

Even though your Houston family dentist made sure to cement your brackets in place, they can still get damaged from food that is too hard. Crunchy stuff like chips, tacos shells, pretzels, tough vegetables, and even ice should be avoided. They can cause the wires and brackets to loosen and break. Although your Houston braces can be repaired, it’s still an inconvenience having to visit the dentist for emergency purposes.

Honorable Mentions

Another food type to avoid are those that you have to bite into, such as corn on the cob, whole apples, and hard bread. You can easily lose a bracket or two for these foods. Instead, slice them into bite-size pieces to save yourself an unexpected trip to the dental office.

Food You Can Enjoy

Having Houston braces doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious food that you love. There is still a wide assortment of food that is good for your dental treatment. Mashed potatoes, pasta, yogurt, soft fruit, cheese, and peanut butter are just a few examples. Being informed on what can damage your braces will get you to your desired smile faster.

Schedule an Appointment for Houston Braces

Are you considering getting Houston braces to boost your confidence and improve your oral health? Visit Centra Dental where we embrace your smiles. Our top-rated Houston dentist provides all vital dental services, such as cleaning, filings, root canals, and more. We have surgically clean air circulating for your protection. We prioritize cleanliness and the safety of our patients and staff. Why visit Centra Dental? We strive to make your dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Ask us about dental insurance we accept as well as dental service specials!