What Can I Do to Get My Braces off Sooner?

The best part of having braces is getting them off and seeing the results. Moving teeth can seem like a long process, especially if you’re missing out on eating some of your favorite foods or you have a few particularly tough issues to fix. If you have found yourself wondering if there is something you can do to get your braces off sooner, you’re not alone.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Orthodontics is a gradual process and can only progress at a rate that keeps your teeth healthy. Of course, that means it can take longer than you might like. But trying to speed up your braces treatment on your own can cause damage to your teeth, jaws, and gums.

If you are wearing elastics to correct your bite, it can be tempting to double up on rubber bands to try to fix it faster. It’s important to stick to your orthodontist’s instructions on how many elastics to wear at one time and how long to wear them each day.

Do not try to adjust the wires on your braces in an attempt to increase the pressure on your teeth. Your orthodontist has adjusted your braces to apply just the right amount of force to gently straighten your smile and improve your bite.

What You Should Do to Get Your Braces off Sooner

The most important thing to do when you have braces is to listen to your orthodontic team. There are many instructions that can keep you on track to get your braces off as quickly as possible with the best results.

Watch what you eat. Hard or crunchy foods can bend wires or break brackets, both of which will slow down treatment until they are fixed. Sticky foods can be hard to get out of your braces and cause you to damage them while trying to clean your teeth. Setting aside your favorite foods for a year or more can be hard, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

Keep your appointments. Your follow-up appointments are scheduled by your orthodontic team to provide adjustments to your braces at the right times throughout your treatment. So it’s important to stick to the schedule as much as possible. We know things happen and appointments may need to be missed, just be sure to reschedule as soon as possible. If you have a busy schedule and need to be seen on certain days or at a certain time of day, book your next appointment before you leave so you aren’t trying to get into the office at the last minute.

Wear your elastics. Not wearing your rubber bands enough hours each day, or not wearing them at all, can drastically slow down your progress. Not changing your rubber bands often enough—usually two or three times a day—also reduces the effectiveness of your treatment and can prolong it.

Try to break bad habits. Biting your nails, gnawing on pencils and chewing ice is not only hard on your teeth, it’s also hard on your braces. Try to keep anything out of your mouth that isn’t an acceptable food or liquid to avoid unintentionally breaking a bracket or wire.

Don’t wait to get problems fixed. If you do happen to damage your braces, contact your orthodontist as soon as possible. They will be able to tell you how to handle the situation and set up an appointment to fix your braces when necessary. Not taking care of a problem right away can easily delay treatment since your braces are not working as they should be.

Being patient, taking care of your braces, following your orthodontist’s instructions, and keeping your appointments will help ensure your treatment is completed quickly. Even more importantly, you will have a straighter, healthier smile to enjoy for years to come.