No1 commonly asked questions

Treatment can take anywhere between six and 24 months, depending on how major or minor your orthodontic needs are. We’ll assess your need for orthodontic treatment at your initial consultation, and advise you then how long it will take to achieve your stunning smile.

Anything! Because you remove your aligners before you eat and drink anything, your diet does not need to change for aligner treatment. Food and drink can stain or warp the aligners, meaning that your teeth may not move to the planned and desired position, which is why they need to be removed first. We also recommend a softer diet for the first few days after changing aligners as the your teeth may be a little tender and need a few days to settle down.

Yes, and make sure you do it several times a day! Having braces can give plaque more places to hide, so we advise brushing after every meal and using a fluoride mouthwash every evening. Once you’ve had your braces fitted, we’ll show you some techniques for brushing your teeth.

Whether you are wearing fixed, ceramic or lingual braces, we recommend you avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar content, as well as fizzy drinks and sticky, chewy or particularly hard foods.

To help prevent staining, especially in the early stages of treatment, we also advise against eating and drinking certain foods that are high in colour, such as curries and red wine.

We also recommend you eat a softer diet for the first few days following treatment to help your mouth settle. Although orthodontic treatment doesn’t hurt, the first few days after fitting or adjustments can cause your teeth to be a little tender. Our team will give you dietary advice.

As well as regular check-up here at No1 The Orthodontic Specialists, it is important to maintain routine appointments with your usual dentist and hygienist. We will work with your dentist throughout your treatment and keep them up to date with how your treatment is progressing.

To allow you to undertake teeth whitening at your convenience, we provide a mouthguard that has been created especially for you based on an impression of your teeth. You will use this mouthguard to regularly apply the whitening gel over a period of 2-4 weeks.

Only a registered dentist or dental therapist/hygienist is legally able to carry out teeth whitening. Treatments undertaken by beauticians or kiosks are illegal. Commercial kits are not always assessed for safety and could seriously damage your teeth.

We can guarantee that whitening treatment at No1 The Orthodontic Specialists is top quality and carried out by trained professionals.

While it varies for each person, treatment typically lasts up to two years if staining foods, drinks and smoking are avoided. Once you have your mouthguards, you can simply purchase additional top-ups from us to ensure your teeth maintain their lustre.

On top of maintaining a regular dental regime, we recommend avoiding foods and drinks that can stain teeth, such as berries, curries, red wine and coffee. Stopping smoking will also reduce the risk of staining.

Treatment can take anywhere between six and 24 months, depending on how major or minor your orthodontic needs are. We’ll assess your smile concerns at your initial consultation, assess your teeth and smile and advise you then how long it will take to achieve your stunning smile.

No, but for the first few weeks following the fitting of your aligners, you may find your teeth ache a little and your cheeks or tongue are sore as they become accustomed to your new aligner.

No, although it is still very important to clean your teeth, please remove the aligners first. We advise brushing after every meal and flossing and using a fluoride mouthwash every evening.

No, we recommend that you remove your aligners before eating and drinking, with the exception of drinking cold water. Any food and drink can stain or warp the aligners, meaning that your teeth may not move to the planned and desired position. We also recommend a softer diet for the first few days after changing aligners as the your teeth may be a little tendered need a few days to settle down.

As well as regular check-up here at No1 The Orthodontic Specialists, it is important to maintain routine appointments with your usual dentist and hygienist. We will work with your dentist throughout your treatment and keep them up to date with how your treatment is progressing.

Dental Monitoring is a system which allows us to monitor your orthodontic journey and from the comfort of your own home. For more information on how Dental Monitoring works, click here.

Orthodontic treatment involves stretching elastic ligaments in the gum to move the teeth into chosen positions. Once these appliances are removed, the elastic ligaments try to pull the teeth back to their starting positions.

It takes time for these fibres to remodel and stop pulling on the teeth. Continued growth of the jaws can also encourage the teeth to move once treatment has been completed. To help avoid this orthodontic relapse, we provide our patients with retainers.

Your orthodontist will recommend a minimum timeframe to reduce the chances of your teeth reverting to their original position. However, as teeth move as a part of the natural ageing process, wearing a retainer indefinitely will preserve your new smile for longer.

Removable retainers should be cleaned daily with a toothbrush and soap and washed over a sink with cold water. If you have a fixed retainer, we’ll teach you to use special dental floss and brushes to reach the space between the retainer and your teeth.

You may notice some initial discomfort in the first week of wearing a retainer, but this isn’t painful and should only last for a week at most.

A removable retainer should not be worn when eating, brushing or engaging in physical activities such as sports.