The following is a roundup of things you may or may not need to know about having braces.
Can you enter the military with braces?
No, you cannot join the military while you are being treated with braces because the appliances may be damaged during physical training or combat, and may pose issues that require specialized dental care while you’re deployed.
However, if currently undergoing orthodontic treatment and want to enlist, you can stop treatment and have your braces removed entirely. Your recruiter or commanding officer must sign a note to give to your orthodontist that explains why you are stopping treatment. After completing your term of service, you can resume your treatment.
A more practical option that won’t affect your current braces is to join the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), which is also known as the Future Soldiers or Future Sailors Program. You sign a contract to enlist as soon as your treatment is finished. While in the DEP, you are considered inactive and a member of the reserves, and are not paid.
Are there jobs that prohibit braces?
It is illegal to discriminate against anyone wearing braces unless it interferes with the necessary functions of the job. For example, law enforcement officers are allowed to wear braces but may be prohibited from wearing them during physical training at police academies for safety reasons.
Certain roles where appearance is essential may prohibit or restrict the use of braces, such as for flight attendants, front desk staff, actors, or models. For the last two positions, non-permanent braces such as Invisalign can be removed for specific periods and then put on after filming or photography is finished.
How do I play sports safely with braces?
When you play sports with braces, you increase the risk of injury to the mouth when you collide with other players or when you’re hit in the face with a ball or other sporting gear. The easiest way to minimize any issues with permanent braces is to wear an orthodontic mouthguard when you play sports. Because these mouthguards are wider, they fit over your braces, gums, and teeth to offer maximum protection.
If you wear Invisalign, the solution is simpler. Remove the clear retainers while you’re engaged in the sport, and put them back on afterwards.
How do I kiss with braces?
Kissing won’t be a problem if you have permanent braces because modern appliances are made with smaller and smoother parts to minimize injury. But you will need to practice for a bit to get it right. Wait about two weeks after getting braces as your mouth adjusts to wearing them.
When you’re ready, thoroughly clean your mouth so food particles are not stuck in your teeth. Then, go slowly and gently, starting with closed lips and being careful not to bump your braces on the interior walls of your mouth to avoid scratching. When you progress to open-mouth kissing, keep the tongues away from the braces, and don’t allow your braces to touch your partner’s teeth. Keep practicing until you get it right. Try applying dental wax, or tooth wax, to guard your soft tissues by covering sharp edges.
Again, Invisalign makes kissing a non-event as you can remove them before such activity.
Need more information?
Need more information about braces and how they can improve your health? Then, please call us at Richmond Virginia Orthodontics.
