Orthodontic info
Can braces attract lightning, rust, pick up radio signals or lock together when two people kiss?
No: braces leave the chance of a lightning strike unchanged and today’s braces will not rust, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), which also says braces do not interfere with radio signals or electronic devices and calls locking braces during a kiss almost impossible.
On this page
Each answer below is the AAO’s own, with what it means for you. The real concerns with braces are more ordinary: the AAO says hard, sticky and chewy foods are the ones to avoid so braces are not broken, and those foods are listed on the practice’s foods to avoid with braces page. Soreness for a short time after braces are placed or adjusted is another, and it is the subject of the post on whether adult braces hurt more than teen braces.
Will braces increase my chance of being struck by lightning?
Braces leave the chance of a lightning strike unchanged, and the AAO’s answer is that “With or without braces the chances of a lightning strike remain the same.” The National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) gives the reason: height, pointy shape and isolation are the dominant factors in where lightning strikes, and “the presence of metal makes absolutely no difference on where lightning strikes.”
The outdoor question worth bringing to the exam is how to protect the teeth and mouth during sports, which your orthodontist answers for your case.
Will my braces attract attention from fish?
Braces will not draw fish, in the AAO’s words: the small brackets of today’s braces, “especially ceramic or tooth-colored brackets, will not attract attention from unsavory fish or sea life,” so there is no need to cancel a dive.
Metal and ceramic braces are both among the treatment options your orthodontist explains at the consultation, and the page on types of braces compares them.
Will my braces interfere with radio signals or electronic devices?
Braces do not interfere with radio signals or electronic devices: asked exactly that, the AAO answers “No. Radio-loving gadget fanatics can rest easy.”
A specific device question can go to your orthodontist at the exam.
Can braces rust?
Braces will not rust, according to the AAO: “Today’s braces are made of new stronger materials, like titanium alloy, and will not rust,” and other AAO pages note that braces can be made of stainless steel or ceramic.
What braces do need is cleaning: the AAO says braces and other appliances can raise the risk of white spots by trapping plaque, and the practice’s guide to brushing and flossing with braces walks through the routine.
If two people with braces kiss, can their braces become locked together?
Two sets of braces are almost impossible to lock together, the AAO says: with today’s smaller sleeker braces “it is almost impossible to lock braces while kissing.”
If a bracket loosens or a wire starts to poke for any reason, the AAO says to tell your orthodontist right away, and the guide to orthodontic emergencies lists what counts as a true emergency.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do braces attract each other during a kiss?
No. The American Association of Orthodontists says braces are not magnetic, so any attraction felt during a kiss is on the part of the wearers, and it calls locking braces while kissing almost impossible with today’s smaller, sleeker braces.
Does the metal in braces matter in a thunderstorm?
The American Association of Orthodontists says the chance of a lightning strike is the same with or without braces, and the National Weather Service says metal does not attract lightning but does conduct it, which is why it tells people to stay away from metal fences, railings and bleachers.
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