How to prevent overbite after wearing braces?

Braces are a commonly used, effective treatment used to treat overbite. However, many people experience “teeth running” and the overbite returns after braces. Brace treatment uses dental tools to readjust teeth to the right positions, bringing receivers a confident smile and improved appearance. Let’s find out why crossbite occurs following brace treatment and how to prevent this problem through the following information!

Causes of overbite after removing dental braces

An overbite can occur after brace treatment due to the following:

1. The orthodontist lacks expertise

Braces themselves are not expensive and it is the expertise of the orthodontist that makes up most of the total cost. Understanding the psychology of most patients, many dental clinics offer cheaper brace treatments than normal but the orthodontists are not qualified enough. This leads to undesired results. Besides, wrongly estimated wear time can easily result in overbite after braces are removed.

2. Removing braces too early

The time for removing braces depends on the following factors:

• State of teeth before the treatment
• Type of braces
• Oral care
• Frequency of periodic checkups

Early brace removal can be from temporary removal for studying abroad, getting married, and the orthodontist lacking expertise and experience. Not only will this lead to the return of overbite, but it can also make teeth shift into the wrong positions or even cause facial distortion as a result of a bad bite.

3. Not wearing retainers regularly

This is the top cause of overbite coming back following brace treatment. Many people believe that after the treatment, teeth will stay stable. However, this is not true. Teeth are still not very stable and can shift back to their original state under the effect of chewing and biting. Retainers serve to keep teeth secure in the new positions, minimizing the risk of shifting back to the original state following braces.

Overbite following braces can be caused by various objective factors such as aging and how one chews food. However, the 3 causes mentioned above are the biggest factors and can be prevented. So make sure to prevent overbite from returning.

How to prevent overbite after removing braces

Two things to keep in mind to prevent overbite following braces include:

Wear retainers as instructed

After braces treatment, the orthodontist will ask you to wear retainers to keep your teeth secure at the new positions and prevent them from shifting back to their original state.

• Required wear time

Normally the wear time of retainers ranges from 6 to 12 months. In the first 3 to 6 months, you may need to wear them for 12-20 hours a day. For the next 6 months, you can shift to nightwear. For some cases, after 12 months of wearing retainers, you may need to continue wearing them for 3 to 4 nights per week.

The wear time can vary depending on many factors such as the state of teeth and your age. While wearing retainers, you need to attend periodic check-ups to monitor and determine how stable your teeth are. Wear time can also depend on your diet and your oral care as well as hygiene.

• Cleaning retainers

As retainers can be easily worn and taken off, it is best to clean them every day. You can wash them with cold water then clean them using a toothbrush and toothpaste. This will help clean off all stains, food plaque, and minimize the invasion of bacteria. Avoid washing retainers with hot water as it can distort the plastic.

The aftercare of braces

Besides wearing retainers, do the following:

• Give up bad habits. Brace receivers should drop their habits of thumb sucking, tongue thrusts, teeth grinding, smoking, and drinking alcohol. These bad habits can make your teeth shift back to the original state following braces and negatively affect your oral as well as overall health.
• Have periodic check-ups. One of the best aftercare of braces is attending check-ups. You should visit the dentist every 4-6 months to closely monitor your oral state and have early treatment should any problem arise.
• Choose healthy foods. After braces are removed, your teeth are still weak and not stable. Therefore, go with soft, nutritious foods such as fish, meats, vegetables, fruits, and raw cereals. Make sure to avoid foods that are sticky, hard, sugary, too hot, or too cold.

How long your teeth will be nice-looking and straight depends on your oral care and choice of a dental clinic. Brace treatment takes 2-3 years to complete, and hence, do not sabotage the outcomes of your wait by not wearing refinement retainers!

Braces to correct overbite at The East Rose Dental

The East Rose Dental (Old Rose Dental Clinic) provides braces for overbite that helps bring you the desired nice-looking, straight teeth. The highly skilled and devoted surgeons and dentists at The East Rose Dental (Old Rose Dental Clinic) can help you:

• Have straight, nice teeth after a short time
• Keep teeth stable following braces
• Give teeth periodic care and maintenance  after the braces are removed

Also, we have modern equipment that can give exact images of teeth to determine the right orthodontic treatment.