3 Tips From Your Charlotte Dentist To Keep Your Teeth Straight After Having Braces Removed

Aftercare can be as important as the treatment when getting your teeth straightened. It’s possible for your teeth to shift again after removing your braces, which is the last thing you want to happen.

Dr. Jones will not only correct teeth misaligned with our Invisalign and braces treatment in Charlotte, but we also guide you on properly caring for your teeth to ensure they are permanently straightened.

In this guide, our Charlotte dentist, Dr. Haydn Jones, shares three tips on what you should do to ensure your teeth stay where you want them after having your braces removed:

Why Do My Teeth Shift After Getting Braces Removed?

Have you been wondering why your teeth keep shifting even after you have just completed your orthodontic treatment? We have provided the answers to why this happens. But first, knowing how teeth straightening treatment works is important.

Braces do not permanently attach your teeth to your mouth. They are used as a guide or barrier to align your teeth into the proper position. But when braces are removed, your teeth no longer have their guide, which can lead to shifting.

Nevertheless, the teeth do not shift enough to be noticeable. However, some oral habits can turn your recently straightened teeth into crooked ones. The primary reasons why your teeth shift after getting your braces removed: 

• Teeth grinding and clenching: Grinding or clenching your teeth causes your gum to recede. With fewer gum tissues, your teeth aren’t as secured as they were, and this can cause them to shift quickly.
• Tooth loss: The problem with missing a tooth is that it causes the teeth surrounding the area to move towards the open space. To prevent this, our dentist in Charlotte, Dr. Jones, will replace the missing tooth with a dental implant or partial denture.
• Wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth are often removed because they tend to push at the other teeth, causing them to shift. Hence, if your wisdom teeth appear after your braces are removed, it can lead to teeth shifting.
• Gum disease: Gum diseases left untreated will affect your gums and jawbones. With time, your teeth will lose their foundation on the gum, causing them to shift easily.

How To Make Sure Your Teeth Stay Straight After Having Braces Removed

If you are looking for a way to straighten your teeth with braces and you’re worried that your teeth may shift after having your braces removed, don’t fret. Dr. Jones, our orthodontist in Charlotte, has listed some preventive methods to keep your teeth straight.

Now that you have used our Invisalign or ceramic braces in Charlotte to achieve great results with your smile, keep your teeth aligned by following these simple tips:

1. Keep Wearing Your Retainer

When you visit any Invisalign or braces provider for teens and adults in Charlotte, one popular recommendation is that you keep wearing your retainer even after your treatment. Wearing a retainer is a lifestyle for most orthodontic patients after braces treatment. When worn as the dentist recommends, it easily stops your teeth from shifting once your braces are removed.

Your dentist could recommend a removable or fixed retainer. If removable, it is up to you to wear it as directed by your dentist (which, at first, would be every time, except when brushing, flossing, or eating). Afterwards, your dentist may recommend you cut back and wear it part-time or just before bed.

Hence, if you are seeking how to get a retainer and clear braces on East Boulevard, in Charlotte, to keep your teeth aligned permanently, don’t hesitate to visit our dental office.

2. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is necessary to prevent dental issues such as tooth decay. Tooth decay tends to eat away your teeth and damage their shapes. Although we offer braces for teens and adults in Charlotte to correct various forms of teeth misalignment, maintaining good oral hygiene as aftercare can keep them aligned in the future.

You can reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease by going for dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year and brushing and flossing regularly to keep your teeth healthy. 

More importantly, you must visit your dentist regularly for the first six months after getting your braces off, and every nine months after. This helps your dentist inspect your retainer and make adjustments if required. It also allows the dentist to ensure your teeth are aligned correctly.

3. Visit Your Dentist if Your Teeth Begin To Shift

Due to various reasons, your teeth may shift, even if you wear your retainer as you should. Occasionally, your retainer may no longer fit properly or get damaged. This can lead to teeth shifting. Also, if you wear a permanent retainer, ensure the wires stay intact and none of the bonds are released from the teeth. If the wires are loose, it may cause misalignment.

If you notice your teeth are shifting after having your braces removed, you mustn’t hesitate to call your dentist. Our dentist in Charlotte, Dr. Jones, can replace or repair your retainers if needed to ensure your teeth remain straight and don’t shift.

Keep Your Teeth Straight After Getting Clear Braces in Charlotte

As your #1 braces and Invisalign provider for teens and adults on East Boulevard in the Myers Park/Dilworth area, we know you get braces for a healthy and beautiful smile. However, maintaining good oral health care during and after your orthodontics is what will help you achieve that.

Hence, if you recently had your braces removed, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us at Haydn G. Jones Dentistry. Dr. Jones would love to answer all your questions regarding braces in Charlotte and also help you get the best results from your orthodontic treatments.

You deserve a straight, healthy smile you’re delighted to show off. Contact us today for your teeth straightening treatment in Charlotte.