Many people are born with an overbite, underbite, or crooked teeth. While these conditions usually don't cause medical problems, these issues can cause some people to feel self-conscious about their smile. If you'd like to remedy your misaligned teeth, braces are a tried and true treatment. Braces can give you straight, beautiful teeth in as little as 18 months. Your orthodontist will install your braces, but you still have a part to play in your orthodontic treatment as well. Here are four ways you can get the most out of your braces:

1. Wear all necessary braces appliances.

When your dentist installs your braces, they will glue brackets to your teeth and connect them with wires. The tension of the wire will help move your teeth into their new position. However, your dentist may also give you small elastic bands to put over your braces. Typically, these rubber bands are used to tether your top teeth to your bottom teeth. This is an important part of treatment, so it's important that you wear your rubber bands as directed.

2. Floss your teeth.

It's important to maintain proper dental hygiene while you're wearing braces. Your braces can make it harder to floss, but don't give into the temptation to give up on flossing. You can use special floss specifically designed for braces wearers, or you can use a water pressure flossing device. By flossing your teeth during your orthodontic treatment, you'll ensure that you have beautiful, healthy white teeth when your braces come off.

3. Listen to your orthodontists' instructions.

Your orthodontist will give you a list of foods to avoid while wearing braces. Typically, this will include things such as whole apples, chewing gum, popcorn, and hard snacks. It can be tempting to ignore these instructions, but those foods are prohibited for a reason. Whole apples and hard snacks can damage your braces, while gum may pull out the wires connecting your brackets. Braces are an investment in your smile, so it's not worth ruining them for a few snacks.

4. Wear your retainer.

Getting your braces off can be such a relief! After over a year of orthodontic treatment, you'll finally get to see your new, straight smile. However, your orthodontic care doesn't stop when your braces are removed. Wearing your retainer is important to keep your teeth looking great. If you don't wear your retainer, your teeth can shift back to their original position over time. That would be a huge waste of time and money, so remember to wear your retainer every single night, with no exceptions.

Contact a dental clinic, like Accent On Dentistry - Rowena R Martir DMD, for more help.