17 months have quickly passed since James first came to the London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic for treatment.
After his initial consultation with Dr Asif, it was confirmed that James would need treatment for the following:
- Crowding
- Mild facial asymmetry
- Crossbite
- Smile aesthetics
We sat down with James to answer some FAQs on all aspects of life with lingual braces, including top tips for foodies, treatments and travel advice.
Do many people notice that you have braces? No, very few. Interestingly, not that long ago I was at a party with some friends I hadn’t seen in a long time and for the first time someone asked me if I had braces, but purely because they had noticed my teeth were straighter.
What is the most common question you get asked when people realise that you are wearing lingual braces? When people find out I’m wearing braces they often ask if they hurt, which they don’t. I also get asked if I have to wear them for longer because they’re lingual braces, but that’s not the case either. I think another commonly asked question with braces is ‘what foods are you not allowed to eat?’ but that’s pretty standard and no different to standard braces.
Do you have a go-to meal when you have had your braces tightened? Pasta and rice are always really easy options for me as they are relatively soft. I also normally opt for some sort of fish as they are mostly soft too.
Have you eaten any foods that you’re encouraged not to with braces? If you’re a foodie like me, you’ll find it really hard to skip on some foods. One bit of advice I do have is that if you simply can’t pass on something you’ve been missing, cut it into small manageable pieces to ensure this doesn’t affect your brace. The general rule is, if you can’t cut it with a knife and fork, don’t eat it. Do you need some recipe inspiration? You can browse our dedicated recipes section.
How do you find it fitting your orthodontic treatments around your work schedule? I am in the fortunate position to own my own business, and so I have a reasonable amount of flexibility, but especially now that I can travel to my appointments by train, I find that I can work on the commute from Brighton into the city. The team, although very busy, are also extremely accommodating with appointments and work with me to fit with my schedule.
When we asked James if he finds his treatment visits enjoyable, he said: “Asif and the team make you feel like the most important person in the room. I like that I can discuss the progress of my treatment with him and ask any questions I might have.”
Do you have any recommendations for places to visit that are local to the clinic? If the weather is nice, avoid the tube and take the 30-40 minute walk from London Victoria through central London, it’s a walk I’ll never get tired of. If the British weather is not in your favour, simply take the Victoria line to Oxford Circus. Being a self-confessed history nerd, I will always try to visit the British Museum and check out their new exhibitions. Seven Dials and Marylebone High Street are walking distance from the clinic and host many shops and good quality eateries.
How long does your orthodontic appointment take? This varies from time to time depending on the stage of treatment, however, my appointment times have shortened throughout the process from the initial bond-up (fitting) appointment.
Are there any common myths about braces that you can rule out? One of my personal concerns with having braces fitted was developing a lisp. Because a large amount of my job requires me to carry out public speaking, I was worried my speech would be affected, but any changes to my speech quickly disappeared. Dr Asif recommended that the more you speak, the quicker you’ll adjust and in my opinion, no one will notice it more than you do yourself. Give yourself a couple of days following your treatment to adjust to the changes.
How have lingual orthodontic treatments affected your confidence? I find that I smile more in photos, not just because I want to show off that my smile is better, but because I am less conscious and more comfortable with how my smile looks, overall making me a happier person, and I haven’t even finished treatment yet.
We will continue working with James to share the final stage of his smile journey. You can read more about James’ treatment experience with us at the London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic, here.
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If you’ve got any questions about lingual orthodontic treatments or would like to find out more about our different treatment options, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
