Are you feeling anxious and self-conscious about your braces? You’re not alone – many people feel this way when wearing orthodontic appliances. While it’s normal to have some worries, there are several ways that you can help make braces less noticeable.
In this post, we’ll look at how diet changes and oral hygiene routines can help reduce the visibility of braces while still achieving a perfect smile!
How Can You Avoid Making Your Clear Braces Visible?
1. Choose The Right Color For Your Braces
When choosing the right color for their braces, fair-skinned people have an advantage: clear and white braces are less visible on light skin tones. For darker skin tones, beige and brown-colored braces blend better with their teeth than brighter colors would. However, whichever color you choose is truly up to you – some even opt for multicolored or patterned braces to add a little flair! With so many options available, it’s easy to find the perfect style that suits you and your smile.
2. Wear Your Hair Down
Wearing your hair down when you have braces can significantly reduce the dreaded “brace face.” Whether you have traditional metal braces, customized clear braces, or Invisalign, wearing your hair down helps keep your mouth covered and gives the appearance of minimized braces. Not only does this give you an extra boost of confidence, but it also prevents people from noticing your braces and asking questions about them.
It is also easy to maintain – in addition to hiding your braces; you can style your hair however you want! Taking the time to ensure your hair is always covering up your braces, either with wisps of natural hair or through various accessories, is what you need to keep yourself feeling confident while going through orthodontic treatments.
3. Smile With Your Mouth Closed
It’s easy when you remember the simple rule of smiling with your mouth closed is easy. This ensures the metal brackets don’t stand out front and center, making them less noticeable. Instead, you can focus on sharing your cheerful attitude while keeping your mouth closed to hide the braces beneath.
4. Be Careful What You Eat
Eating sticky foods such as caramel and gummy bears when wearing braces can be problematic. These sticky substances can adhere to the brackets on your braces and take additional energy from your orthodontist or dentist to remove them.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid sticky, crunchy, chewy, or tough foods when you have braces – these could lead to more significant troubles down the road. Hard foods such as granola bars, popcorn, or hard candy also cause a problem by either bending wires or breaking off the brackets altogether. Eating more soft fruits and vegetables will help keep your smiles healthy – and your braces in good shape!
5. Keep Your Teeth Clean And Brushed Regularly
Taking care of your teeth is essential for oral health, especially if you have braces. Keeping your teeth clean and brushing them regularly will go a long way toward preventing staining and maintaining the overall appearance of your braces. If staining does occur, it can be more challenging to remove it when wearing braces.
Furthermore, proper oral hygiene will help keep your gums healthy while wearing braces, reducing discomfort and irritation. This can also help prevent bacteria buildup around the brackets, which would otherwise cause pain and additional dental work. Therefore, taking just a few extra minutes each day to brush and floss properly can pay big dividends for the life of your smile.
Talk To Your Dentist
Even though braces are made to be as small and discreet as possible, some people feel like they’re still too noticeable. If this concerns you, discuss it with your dentist when looking for braces near me treatment. They may have some suggestions for ways to make them less noticeable or may be able to offer alternatives that better suit your needs and preferences.