The early stages of braces make chewing difficult, the body is not fully supplemented with necessary nutrients, causing the cheeks to be sunken and no longer plump as before. So what to do if your cheeks and temples are sunken when wearing braces? Let’s find out with BIK International Dentistry in the article below!
1. Do braces cause sunken cheeks?
Braces are a popular method that is highly effective for dental problems such as: crooked teeth, buck teeth, underbite, misaligned teeth, malocclusion, etc. With this method, the teeth will move to the correct position on the jaw thanks to the tightening force of the archwire system, traditional braces or clear aligners (Invisalign clear braces).
During the orthodontic treatment, many people feel their face is thinner, their cheeks and temples are sunken and no longer plump as before. However, the nature of braces does not cause the cheeks to be sunken, but only helps to adjust the bite to the standard and improve the balance of the five senses, so it may just be that your face becomes thinner and slimmer than before.
However, braces do not always lead to sunken cheeks. If you feel that your cheeks are clearly sunken, your face is no longer balanced, you should see a doctor for examination and timely treatment advice.
2. Why do braces cause sunken cheeks?
Cheeks that are sunken due to braces can be due to the following reasons:
2.1. Due to long-term tooth loss
Long-term tooth loss, especially the loss of large molars located inside, can lead to alveolar bone loss if not prevented promptly. This is one of the causes of sunken cheeks, sunken face, and thinness because at this time there is no longer support from teeth and jaw bones.
2.2. Due to diet
Drinking and resting regimens have a significant impact on the condition of sunken cheeks when wearing braces. Excessive dieting can reduce the amount of fat stored in the cheek area, making the face look thin. In the early stages of braces, doctors often advise patients to supplement adequate nutrition, eat soft, easy-to-chew, easy-to-digest foods.
This is a rather sensitive stage, so you need to pay attention to your daily diet, but at the same time, you also need to pay attention to nutrition to avoid sunken cheeks. After getting used to braces, you can comfortably eat normally again.”
2.3. Due to poor quality braces
For orthodontic braces, the quality of braces is a very important factor that determines the success of the treatment. If the braces are not guaranteed, the periodic adjustment of the tightening force will affect the tooth root, the tooth will gradually become weaker and cause the tooth socket to collapse. This condition, if it occurs for a long time, will cause the teeth to loosen and fall out, and the cheeks will become sunken over time.
3. How long does it take for braces to cause sunken cheeks?
Although it can lead to sunken cheeks with braces, the advantage of this method is that it can improve the bite and old chewing habits, helping to form a balance of chewing force. Therefore, in most cases, braces will help the face become more symmetrical than before treatment.
In fact, in the early stages of braces, sunken cheeks are completely normal and after the teeth have adapted to the tightening force from the orthodontic appliance, the cheeks will no longer be sunken. Because at this time you have started eating normally again, the body is fully supplemented with the necessary energy and nutrients.
4. How to avoid sunken cheeks when wearing braces
To prevent sunken cheeks when wearing braces, you need to pay attention to the following:
4.1. Eat well
You should pay attention to a diet that provides adequate nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to help your body develop normally and healthily. Not only that, weight also needs to be monitored regularly and daily meals should be considered so that you don’t have to worry about sunken cheeks when wearing braces anymore.
4.2. Keep your mind relaxed
Feeling too stressed will also reduce the amount of fat stored in the cheek area, making your face look gaunt and haggard. To prevent this, you should control your mood and always keep your mind relaxed throughout the braces process. Some effective measures include: reading books, listening to music, practicing yoga, meditating, or traveling with family and friends, etc.
4.3. Follow your doctor’s instructions
To avoid sunken cheeks when wearing braces, you should follow your doctor’s instructions on oral care or regular check-ups. Regular check-ups help your doctor monitor the movement of your teeth while wearing braces, and promptly detect and correct any unwanted problems that may occur.
4.4. Choose a reputable dental clinic
Although braces are provided at most dental facilities on the market today, this is a relatively difficult technique and requires high skills and qualifications of the treating doctor. Therefore, to avoid sunken cheeks, you should consider choosing braces at reputable dental facilities with a team of doctors with many years of experience in the profession.
So, sunken cheeks due to braces are quite common and the main cause is that the teeth have not yet adapted to wearing braces, leading to discomfort for the patient, affecting their diet. When you notice this condition, you should see a doctor for examination and specific advice based on each person’s oral condition.
