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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

3 Discreet Ways To Align Your Teeth

30 March 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If you need to have your teeth straightened, you may cringe at the thought of having metal brackets applied to the front of your teeth. For an adult, metal braces may affect how confident he or she feels when smiling or conversing with other people. Still, not wanting metal braces should not prevent you from having your teeth properly aligned. Here are a few teeth alignment options that do not involve the placement of metal brackets on the front of the teeth:

Invisalign

Price: $4,000 to $7,400

Invisalign is an orthodontic option that uses plastic aligning trays instead of brackets to straighten the teeth. Each set of trays is worn for a couple of weeks before being replaced by a new set to progressively align the teeth. The aligning trays are removable, so people who wear Invisalign can take them out to eat or brush their teeth.

The Invisalign trays are clear, so they are barely noticeable on the teeth. Invisalign is usually only available for teens or adults because the palates of the patient need to be completely grown.

Ceramic Braces

Price: $4,000 to $8,000

Traditional braces can also be fashioned using ceramic brackets. The ceramic is the same color as natural tooth material, so it is not easily seen. Ceramic brackets straighten the teeth as effectively as their metal counterparts. However, the brackets may be more prone to cracking or chipping. In addition, clear elastic bands should be used to hold the archwire to the brackets in order to ensure that the braces remain as discrete as possible.

Lingual Braces

Price: $8,000 to $10,000

Lingual braces are made of metal. However, instead of being placed on the front of the teeth, lingual braces are placed on the inner side of the teeth, which lies adjacent to the tongue. Thus, lingual braces are not easily noticed in the mouth. In addition, these braces allow the lips to move without being snagged or cut by metal brackets. This is especially important for people who regularly participate in high-impact sports, such as basketball. Musicians who play wind instruments may also prefer lingual braces since the braces do not hinder the natural movement of the lips.

There are multiple alignment options for people who suffer from crooked teeth. A dental patient no longer needs to feel confined to traditional metal braces. To learn the best alignment options for your particular situation, schedule an appointment with an orthodontist in your area.