Braces for a Healthier Bite & Straighter Smile
Traditional orthodontic braces are a time-tested method for straightening teeth – orthodontists have been using them for decades to improve the health and appearance of smiles.
Braces are relatively simple devices made up of three basic elements: brackets, a flexible archwire, and sometimes elastic bands.
The brackets are fixed to the fronts of the teeth and hold the archwire in place. The archwire controls the amount of pressure on the teeth, moving them into the desired positions. Elastic bands are used to apply more force in specific directions, helping to correct the alignment of the jaws.
Braces are a reliable and highly versatile orthodontic treatment option. They can be used to correct many different types of orthodontic issues in children, teens and adults of all ages.
Today's braces also come in a number of streamlined options that provide a cleaner, lower-profile look for those with aesthetic concerns.
Flexible Payment Plans
At Meldrum Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to a healthy smile. We will work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget so you will know what to expect before treatment begins.
Types of Braces at Meldrum Orthodontics
Every patient and every smile is unique. The type of braces that are best for you will depend on a number of factors, including your specific orthodontic condition, your lifestyle and your budget.

Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are known for their efficacy, durability, and affordability. This orthodontic treatment has been in use the longest. With this style of braces, metal brackets are affixed to the teeth, with archwires threaded through them to guide teeth into their prescribed positions. Elastic ties or metal wires hold the archwire in place.
The wires are usually made of metal alloys, and have been optimized to provide just the right amount of force to straighten the teeth and also be as comfortable as possible for the patient.
Translucent Braces
'Translucent' is a bit of a misnomer in that these braces are not actually see-through – they just blend in. Rather than metal, the brackets are made from a tooth-coloured ceramic that matches the colour of your teeth, creating a transparent effect and making them less visible to others than standard metal braces.
While translucent, ceramic braces are a great option for many, they're not ideal for everyone. These braces aren't as strong as metal braces, so there are some orthodontic conditions that are better resolved with traditional metal braces.


Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces use a mechanism built into the bracket to hold the arch wire in place, instead of elastics or wires. This gives them a lower profile and sleeker look than traditional braces, and it also makes them easier to clean and more comfortable to wear for some patients.
Self-ligating braces tend to be more expensive than traditional braces, and they may not be covered by insurance. If cost is a concern, traditional braces may be a better choice for certain patients.
Coloured Braces
Coloured braces are the ultimate in personalized orthodontic style! With coloured braces, the archwire is held firmly in place by tiny modules (elastic bands) that come in a wide variety of colours.
These little elastics are changed every four to six weeks as your braces are adjusted. This means that every few weeks, you can change the colour of your braces to match the season, your mood, your favourite sports team or the rainbow!

Life with Braces
Braces take some getting used to at first, but you'll develop new routines in no time. Below are some of the main aspects of braces life that will affect you on a day-to-day basis throughout your treatment.
Adjustments
Adjustments are an essential part of orthodontic treatment with braces. About every four to eight weeks, you'll visit our office to have your braces adjusted. This will help keep teeth moving according to your treatment plan.
You may feel some discomfort in the hours or days after your adjustment appointments as your mouth adjusts. This discomfort is temporary, and best managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
Elastics
Elastics, also called rubber bands, are used with traditional braces to apply additional force to certain areas of your mouth to guide tooth movement. They are a key part of your treatment.
Elastics do not maintain their strength for long, though, and need to be changed out at least twice a day. Many of our patients find that making it a habit to change their elastics after each meal makes it easier to remember.
Always follow your orthodontist's instructions regarding your elastics. Contact our office if you find that your elastics break frequently, or if the hook for your elastics breaks off.
Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is more important than ever when you have braces. Braces create all sorts of small spaces and crevices where plaque can build up, leading to tooth discolouration, tooth decay, and gum disease.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy during your braces treatment, be sure to brush after each meal using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You might want to try Proxabrush. It is a specially shaped toothbrush designed to clean out the spaces between braces. You can also use a Waterpik or air flosser to help flush out stubborn food particles.
You should also floss frequently. This is easier than you might expect. You can just feed the floss down through the space between the archwire and your teeth. Pull the end gently towards the back of the tooth and draw the floss up and down between the teeth.
Eating
Unfortunately, undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces will mean having to say no to a few foods you may be fond of.
Foods that you'll need to avoid include chewy or sticky foods (like caramel or licorice), hard or crunchy foods (hard candies, nuts, or whole raw vegetables), and foods you have to bite into (like corn on the cob or apples). You'll also need to avoid sugary drinks.
Cutting food into small pieces and chewing slowly and carefully will allow you to enjoy a wider variety of foods during your treatment, but always defer to your orthodontist's recommendations.
Mouth Guards
Are you an athlete worried about how braces will affect your sporting aspirations? Have no fear! Unless you're a boxer or MMA athlete, in most cases, there's no reason for braces to stop you from playing the sports you love. But if you want to continue getting out on the field, court, or rink during your treatment, it's super important to wear a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, your mouth, and the braces themselves from damage.
Retainers
After your active orthodontic treatment with braces (or Invisalign) is complete, you'll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new, straightened positions while the jaw bone around their roots reforms and hardens.
To start, you'll likely need to wear your retainer for at least 12 hours a day, every day, during the first eight weeks or so after braces. After that time, once your teeth have begun to settle into their new positions, your orthodontist may say it's ok just to wear your retainer night.
Questions About Braces? We've Got Answers.
If you're considering orthodontic treatment with braces, you likely have some questions. Get started by reading our braces FAQs to learn more about how they work, and their benefits.
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How much do orthodontic braces cost?
The cost of treatment with orthodontic braces varies considerably based on the nature and severity of the misalignment being treated. It can also vary depending on the type of braces being used. Translucent braces, for example, tend to be more expensive than traditional metal braces.
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Who is a candidate for braces?
Depending on the orthodontic issue being treated, most children, teens and adults with healthy teeth and gums are generally considered good candidates for braces. That said, certain people with significant gum recession or oral health conditions may not be candidates.
Braces come in a variety of styles and can address a wide range of moderate to complex orthodontic issues, so there are very few limits to who can benefit from braces.
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What are my options for low-profile braces?
We offer self-ligating braces and translucent ceramic braces at our Georgetown and Orangeville orthodontic clinics.
Self-ligating braces don't require elastics or ties like traditional braces do, giving them a neater, more streamlined look. Translucent braces have brackets that are made from polycrystalline that is colour matched with your teeth, allowing them to blend in with your smile. You can learn more about both these types of braces on this page under 'Types of Braces'.
Invisalign clear aligners are also an option for low-profile orthodontic treatment.
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How long will I need to wear braces?
The average treatment time for braces is 12 to 24 months, but this can vary significantly from one patient to the next. The duration of your orthodontic treatment depends primarily on the type and severity of your misalignment. As you might expect, mild or moderate cases are quicker to treat than more complex ones.
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How long until I get used to my braces?
It's likely going to take a week or two to become fully accustomed to your braces after you first get them. You may find it hard to resist poking them with your tongue as you get used to how the wires and brackets feel.
You may also notice that certain areas of your mouth rub against the braces and get sore. Orthodontic wax can be placed on the braces in these areas to help create a smoother surface with less friction as your mouth adjusts. Again, this discomfort is temporary, and after a couple of weeks, your mouth will likely feel normal again.
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Can I change the colour of my braces?
If you have metal braces with rubber bands, you can update the colour of your braces whenever you visit us for an adjustment appointment. Orthodontic elastics can come in a rainbow of different colours. Having the option to personalize your braces in this way can make the orthodontic treatment process a little more fun!
In some cases, we use e-chain to close the spaces between teeth. These also come in a wide variety of colours that can be changed at each adjustment appointment.
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Do braces hurt?
You will almost certainly experience some discomfort at different points of your orthodontic treatment with braces. However, any pain you feel during your braces treatment is temporary and usually resolves over a few days or even hours.
Discomfort from braces usually occurs a week or so after you first get them and also for a few hours or days after your adjustment appointments as the teeth begin to shift. Patients tend to describe the feeling as a sensation of pressure or an ache. Until the pain passes, it is usually easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen.
Another type of temporary discomfort you may experience during your braces treatment is when the brackets rub against the inside of your mouth. This can also happen when you first get your braces and directly after adjustment appointments. Orthodontic wax can be applied to the braces in the areas where the rubbing occurs to create a smoother surface against the inside of your mouth. You can also use painkillers to manage this discomfort until it passes.
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Can adults get braces?
You bet! Braces can be a very effective orthodontic treatment for adults! In fact, more and more adults these days are opting to undergo orthodontic treatment that they missed out on when they were younger to improve their oral health and the appearance of smiles.
Many of our adult patients prefer the lower profile, more streamlined look of translucent ceramic braces, self-ligating braces, or Invisalign. All these options allow you to straighten your teeth without the more pronounced appearance of traditional braces.
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Can kids get braces?
Yes, but we take a moderate approach to braces for children and only prescribe them when there's a serious risk of future orthodontic problems.
That said, children as young as seven years old may be candidates for braces in some cases. Certain developing misalignments and bite problems can be more easily treated when children are young. At this age, we can work with and guide their oral development, rather than undoing issues that are already established later on.
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Do I have to brush more with braces?
Yes, it's a good idea to brush your teeth at least after each meal throughout your braces treatment.
Oral hygiene becomes more important than ever while you're wearing braces. The presence of braces in your mouth introduces a multitude of tiny crevices, nooks, and crannies that were not there before. It's very easy for food particles to get caught in these tiny spaces, making them a breeding ground for bacteria.
To avoid developing cavities (not to mention tooth discolouration and bad breath), extra diligence with your oral hygiene is essential.
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How do I floss with braces?
Many people imagine that flossing with braces is complicated, but it's fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it!
To floss your teeth with braces, feed the floss down through the space between the archwire and your teeth. Floss threaders are available to help make this easier. Pull the end of the floss gently towards the back of the tooth and draw the floss up and down between the teeth. Then, repeat this process between each pair of teeth.
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What can I eat while I'm wearing braces?
Eating with braces requires a little extra care, but you should still be able to eat many of the foods you love.
You'll need to avoid hard, crunchy, or overly sticky/tacky foods. In general, it's important to chew carefully while wearing braces and take your time. Avoid biting into foods like apples or corn on the cob (cut your apple into bite-sized pieces and shell your corn instead!) and avoid chewing gum completely.
For the most part, you can go on eating your normal diet – with a few modifications along the way. Your orthodontist will give you more details on what to avoid during your braces treatment.
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Can I still play contact sports if I wear braces?
We generally recommend avoiding any sports involving direct blows to the face while wearing braces. Even with a mouth guard, sports like boxing are not advisable.
Other contact sports, like football or rugby, may be possible if you wear a mouth guard, but we advise extreme caution in these cases as well.
For most sports, though, you should be able to keep playing with no problem. If you want to continue getting out on the field, court or rink during your treatment, we recommend wearing a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth, your mouth, and the braces themselves from damage. Speak to your orthodontist to find out which sports mouth guard is right for you.
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Braces vs. Invisalign: How do I choose which is best for me?
Braces and Invisalign are both effective orthodontic treatment options, but there are differences between them that impact their suitability for different individuals.
Factors to consider when choosing between braces and Invisalign include your personal preferences and lifestyle, aesthetics, the nature and severity of your misalignment, and cost. You can learn more here.
Your orthodontist will assess your specific case and recommend the best treatment option for your needs.