Tisseront Orthodontics

In fact, wearing braces causes relatively little change to your daily life. Naturally, in order to ensure the best results from your treatment, you will have to learn how to care for your orthodontic devices properly, which can mean making a few adjustments to your usual habits. For most patients, the biggest adjustment is taking a break from some common snack foods. While wearing braces, it’s best to stop eating any extremely chewy, sticky, crunchy or hard foods. The biggest culprits are bagels, liquorice, popcorn, chips, ice, caramel candies, chewing gum, nuts and hard candies. You’ll also want to avoid biting straight into crisp apples, corn on the cob or crunchy carrots. However, you can still enjoy those foods; you’ll just need to slice them up first.

Although orthodontics works best when done early, it’s never too late to benefit from orthodontic treatment. Many of Tisseront Orthodontics’ patients are teenagers and adults. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 20 percent of all patients are over age 21. With the increasingly discrete and even “invisible” options now available, adults no longer have to worry about the aesthetics of wearing braces.

In addition to dental school, orthodontists receive specialized training to improve the alignment of the teeth and jaws. If you have protruding teeth, crowded teeth, asymmetry, impacted teeth or an underbite, overbite or cross-bite, your dentist may refer you to see an orthodontist for the most appropriate treatment.

In most cases, the earlier you can start orthodontic treatment, the simpler your treatment will be. While the ideal age varies from one person to another, the American Association of Orthodontists advises that children have their first consultation at around age seven. At Tisseront Orthodontics, we specialize in an early-action “two-step” treatment plan, that helps correct tooth and jaw alignment from an early age.

In the beginning, braces and other appliances may cause some soreness or tenderness. However, new patients should keep in mind that this discomfort typically subsides very quickly. To soothe any soreness, we recommend dissolving salt in lukewarm water and gargling or swishing this salt water solution for a couple of minutes. (But do not swallow it!) We can also provide you with wax, which you can rub on any hard areas of your braces, to reduce soreness or pain.

Tisseront Orthodontics is one of the only Reston Orthodontists to offer such a full array of orthodontic treatments. Our patients may choose from “invisible options” such as lingual braces, Invisalign and ceramic braces, as well as traditional metal braces. Our team will consult with you to help determine the best option for your particular situation.