Side Effects of Orthodontic Treatment

Are there side effects with orthodontics? It is obvious changes occur when undergoing braces treatment. They are not bad things just part of the new order while you have alien things in your mouth. Complications can happen too. In this post, we’ll take you through the side effects of orthodontic treatment. Let’s get going.

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Common Side Effects of Orthodontic Treatment

Discomfort

Your teeth are moving into a different place. It may seem tiny movements to you but for your teeth, it is quite the journey. This movement is what causes discomfort. It should be expected. Sometimes the discomfort emerges as aches. Jaw ache and headaches are par the course.

Your ortho will recommend O-T-C drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen. These are common pain relief methods and work well. If discomfort becomes pain, consult your provider as the braces may need tweaking or another avenue of treatment may be needed.

Jaw Pain

Depending on the type of treatment you will find jaw pain constant throughout the treatment. If you have traditional style braces (those with wires and brackets,) the jaw pain will be exaggerated after the tightening session. The tightness is what is moving the teeth, so you need to learn to live with it.

Bleeding Gums

As we mentioned earlier. The little aliens in your mouth will come as a surprise at first. Both for you and the inside of your mouth. Traditional braces will cut your gums and cheeks. Your lips will have to deal with it all too. There are products out there to cater to your pains.

There are products out there to cater to your pains.

WAX is the most common. Placing wax on the edges of the brackets and wires will cut down the discomfort. Anything more than discomfort is more than likely an issue and should be dealt with quickly to avoid further injury.

Eating Disruption

You will have to change your diet when embarking on orthodontic treatment. Traditional braces will mean a complete overhaul of dietary Behaviour. Aligner users just need to add softer foods to their diet. Traditional braces won’t allow the eating of hard crunchy foods. This side effect is the loss of fave treats but the diet and health of the person are not affected. Toffee and braces do not mix. For those wishing to lose weight, this is not so much a side effect but more a bonus.

More Serious Effects

There are effects other than pains and disruptions. These effects are one of oral health and should be considered before treatment commences.

Poor Hygiene

As with any tooth, it needs protection from nasties. Tooth decay happens anyway with poor oral hygiene, with braces it can be accelerated. The nooks and crannies must be cleaned. There are many devices that reach the places hidden by wires and rubber bands. Flossing is another must. Brushing twice a day minimum another must.  It is important to note, a decayed tooth may mean disruption in treatment.

Allergies

In rare cases, you may find yourself allergic to some material used in braces treatment. Latex is the most common allergic reaction. Sometimes the metal will affect the inside of the mouth. If you have allergies, tell the provider right away. There are materials in use that do not carry possible allergic reactions. Latex-free rubber for example.

Root Resorption

This occurs over the course of treatment. The shortening of roots is common and tiny. The root tip will lose some length, but this is not problematic. Your provider will keep an eye on this for you. Any issues that may arise will be known well in advance using skill and foresight.

No one knows why root resorption happens. It is known that treatment exceeding 3 years will start towards resorption.

Relapse

After treatment occurs a retainer will be needed. If the retainer is not used tooth relapse occurs. This is the tooth or teeth moving back to the position they were in before the treatment. Relapse is easy and must be stopped. If not, you will have paid good money and lots of months in discomfort for nothing.

Decalcification

Decalcification appears as white marks on the teeth. This will arise from poor oral health. They may also lead to cavities. Proper hygiene will combat the negative effects of braces treatment. A diet low in sugar will also help.

Jonathan Gluck