Millions of people have had their teeth straightened with braces. In your parents’ time, they likely only had the option of metal braces. Today’s patients have the option of clear braces as well.
So what is the difference between clear braces vs. metal braces? Are clear braces better than metal?
Kanning Orthodontics has found that our patients prefer clear braces, so that’s what we offer. The 3M Clarity clear ceramic braces we use are much less visible than metal braces because they are tooth colored, which makes them popular with adults as much as teenagers and children. Let’s explore the differences between clear braces vs. metal braces.
What Are Clear Braces?
Clear braces are sometimes called ceramic braces because they are made from a special ceramic material. This material is meant to blend better with the natural color of your teeth.
Ceramic braces can also be custom-made for your teeth, providing a better fit for more efficiency in your treatment. What do clear braces look like? They look like metal braces but with a clear material that makes it harder to see them on your teeth.
Clear braces are very similar to metal braces. They’re made up of brackets that go on the front teeth, with special brackets that go on the back teeth. These special metal brackets hold the archwire, which stretches across the clear brackets.
The archwire and brackets provide gentle pressure to move your teeth into their correct positions. With metal braces, you usually have full metal bands that encase the teeth to hold the archwire. Our braces don’t do that, so they have a lower profile on the back teeth than typical metal braces.
Are Clear Braces Better Than Metal Braces?
This is a tough question because some people prefer metal braces if they are less expensive. How much are ceramic braces? At Kanning Orthodontics, we offer only clear braces, so you’re going to get them at a great cost. As for how well they work, clear braces work just like metal braces to straighten your teeth, so you will see similar results.
Sometimes, the type of braces used provides better results. Our clear braces are specially made for your teeth, which makes them more efficient than metal braces or even standard clear braces. With our braces, you may have shorter treatment than with standard metal braces but with the same amazing results!
Do Clear Braces Stain?
You may wonder if clear braces can stain. The truth is they can discolor over time, but it’s very difficult. That’s because the ceramic material used to make the brackets for clear braces is made to be stain resistant.
However, constant indulgence in certain foods and drinks over time can discolor your braces. That’s why we recommend what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink while wearing clear braces.
To keep from staining your braces, you’ll want to moderate or temporarily eliminate certain dark foods and liquids that can stain over time. This includes coffee, dark teas, sodas, and fruit juices.
If you can’t eliminate these, make sure you brush your teeth immediately after consuming them to reduce the chances of staining your braces. Oral hygiene is super important, especially when you have braces, to help your oral health. That’s why we make sure to show you how to brush and floss during your treatment.
Whether you have clear or metal braces, there are some food restrictions to pay attention to. There are certain foods you should avoid while wearing braces, but the good news is you can go back to enjoying them once your braces are off! These foods can do damage to your braces, including damaging brackets and breaking braces wires.
Foods to Avoid with Clear Braces
Here are the foods you should temporarily avoid while wearing clear braces.
- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice, taffy, hand-tossed pizza crust, gummy candies, jerky
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, tortilla chips, ice, hard cookies
- Sticky foods — gum, caramel candies, certain snack bars
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds
- Foods that require front bite — apples, carrots, corn on the cob, pears (whole), peaches (whole)
Foods to Eat Cautiously With Clear Braces
There are foods you can eat, but you need to eat them carefully. Cut certain foods into bite-size pieces and eat only parts of certain foods.
- Pizza – Soft crust only (deep dish). Thin or hand-tossed crust may be too hard or tough and may break a wire or dislodge a bracket.
- Fruits – Cut apples, pears, peaches, and strawberries into bites. Applesauce is OK.
- Oatmeal – Raw oatmeal in snack bars can damage braces. Cooked oatmeal is fine and can be easier to eat after you get your braces or have them adjusted.
- BBQ or cooked meats – Cut meats into small bites. Don’t eat rib meat off the bone.
Foods You Can Eat With Clear Braces
Despite the restrictions, there are lots of great foods you can eat with your clear braces. Here are a few examples.
- Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milkshakes, smoothies
- Soft bread — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins (no nuts)
- Grains — cooked pasta, soft-cooked rice
- Meats/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, hot dogs
- Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes, lobster
- Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans, cooked squash/zucchini
- Fruit — applesauce, bananas, light fruit juices (white grape juice, apple juice, etc.)
- Soft treats — ice cream (no nuts), soft cake, soft pastries
Avoid Smoking or Tobacco Products!
Do clear braces turn yellow with tobacco use as teeth do? They can! That’s why it’s important to avoid smoking or any tobacco use when wearing clear braces. Otherwise, the tobacco can eventually stain your braces (and your teeth around them) and turn them slightly yellow.
It can also leave discolored areas around the brackets. That means when you remove the brackets, you could have light squares on your teeth where the brackets were bonded to the tooth and the smoke didn’t get in.
The easiest way to avoid this is to give up tobacco products during treatment and afterward. Talk to Kanning Orthodontics if you need suggestions on how to stop smoking or tobacco use. We can help!
Clear Braces in Kansas City, MO
Kanning Orthodontics offers clear braces for kids and adults because it’s never too late to get the smile of your dreams! Orthodontic treatment with our 3M Clarity clear ceramic braces can give you the look you want usually in less time than with traditional metal braces. Schedule a free consultation if you’re in the Kansas City, MO, or Liberty, MO, areas, and let us show you what we can do for you!