How Do the Changing Seasons Affect Braces

how braces work

Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi

A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.

Seasonal changes can have all sorts of health consequences and emotional consequences on you and your family. However, you may be surprised to discover that seasonal changes affect your braces. When you have braces, you need to take extra measures to ensure that you’re taking care of your oral health and maintaining your oral device.

Please continue reading to learn how the changing seasons affect braces so that you can take proper care of your oral health. We will discuss how braces work, when to schedule an adjustment, and the precautions you need to take during seasonal changes.

How Braces Work

When you wear braces, they will put pressure on your teeth and jaws to realign them into place. For example, you can use braces to straighten your teeth, fill in the gaps, and realign your jaw. However, you need to schedule frequent adjustments with your orthodontist to ensure that your mouth problems are resolved.

If you do not adjust your braces as often as necessary, your teeth and jaw may become more misaligned instead of putting them in the right spot. When you wear braces, you must be diligent about your oral health and attend all your orthodontist appointments. Otherwise, you could worsen your situation instead of improving it.

When To Schedule a Braces Adjustment

Your orthodontist will work with you throughout your treatment to adjust your braces whenever necessary. It would be best to visit your orthodontist once every four weeks, depending on your oral health demands. You may be able to get away with visiting once every ten weeks if you only need minor adjustments. Your orthodontist will inform you how often you should schedule a visit.

 When you step into your orthodontist’s office for a braces adjustment, the procedure will take about 30 minutes. So, you don’t have to worry about spending the entire day in the orthodontist’s office when you need an adjustment. The process is quick enough to accomplish this task by setting aside an hour of your day to make room for wait time.

Avoid Broken Braces During Seasonal Activities

One of the things you need to be cautious of during seasonal changes is maintaining your oral health despite dietary demands. For example, if you go trick or treating, you may be inclined to eat some of the hard or crunchy candy you receive on your outing. However, this is not a good idea if you have braces because you could break your braces by eating this hard candy.

It may feel like a bummer to forgo some fun seasonal activities when you have braces, but it’s necessary if you want to save money on a replacement pair. If you break your braces, you need to visit your orthodontist as soon as possible for a replacement so that you don’t compromise your oral health.

 If you break your braces, don’t worry; your orthodontist can replace them, and you can continue your treatment plan. Broken braces are a common issue people encounter, so you’re not the first person to break this oral health device.

Understanding Braces and How Changing Weather Affects Them

When you have braces, the cold weather can be extremely inconvenient for several reasons. Unfortunately, the status of your braces is not exempt from seasonal changes similar to other health aspects you deal with daily. It would help if you looked out for the following things during seasonal changes when you have braces.

  • Cold weather can cause more oral pain than normal, so you should contact your orthodontist if you experience pain during the fall or winter. Your orthodontist will take the necessary steps to minimize their pain so your treatment can continue.
  •  Holidays are a tempting time to eat food you should not consume when you wear braces. It would help if you practiced self-control when Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas roll around to maintain oral health. Remember that this is not a permanent change; the more you stick to your oral health routine, the better off you’ll be.
  • When it gets cold out, you’re more likely to catch the flu or the common cold. However, when you get sick, you still need to maintain your oral health so that you don’t have any complications. Neglecting to brush your teeth when you wear braces can cause cavities and tooth decay.

If you’re worried about any of these situations, you should communicate your concerns with your orthodontist to ensure that your braces work effectively. Weather changes can be frustrating when you wear braces because they can be more painful during cold weather.

 Taking care of yourself properly when you’re sick can also be troublesome, which happens more often during the fall and winter. Learning how braces work is the best way to ensure that you take great care of them despite seasonal changes.

Seasonal Beverages And Your Oral Health

Another seasonal temptation you need to recognize when you have braces is hot beverages. Many people dub fall and winter hot cocoa season because this is their favorite time to drink this beverage. However, when you wear braces, you need to be more cautious about the beverages you consume to ensure you don’t develop cavities.

As an adult, you may also be tempted by alcoholic beverages depending on seasonal changes. For example, you may be inclined to drink more sugary tropical drinks during the summer and warm festive drinks during the winter. Be mindful of your oral health whenever you wear braces so that you don’t deal with further complications.

Final Thoughts

Learning how braces work is the first step you need to take to ensure that you’re ready to deal with seasonal changes and how they affect your braces. For example, your teeth may hurt more during the winter because cold weather can make your braces sensitive. If you experience more pain than normal, you should communicate this problem with your orthodontist to continue your treatment.

When you wear braces, you need to be cautious about the food you eat to ensure that you don’t encourage tooth decay or cavities. This situation means watching out for candy, sweets, and beverages you would normally avoid with braces.

Get Teeth Tips

Leave a Reply