You’ve taken a big step by having braces put on. You’re now officially on the path towards a healthy, beautiful smile. It’s an exciting time, but it also comes with a bit of a learning curve.
As you get used to your new orthodontic treatment, you may need to make a few adjustments, but it’ll become second nature before you know it.
When you first get your metal braces or clear braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal, and we promise your mouth won’t be sore forever. We recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water to relieve the pain.
Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).
If your pain is severe and doesn’t go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It’s normal for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces.
We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
Brushing with braces can take some getting used to. Maneuvering around brackets and wires takes a little practice. Be sure to brush thoroughly after every meal or snack, so any food particles are removed before bacteria has a chance to grow.
If you’re not able to brush right away, rinsing your mouth with water will help until you can get to a toothbrush.
Follow these tips for the best results:
Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time. However, before you enjoy some of the treats you love, you’ll need to avoid any foods that could damage your new braces.
Bad habits
There are also a few oral habits you’ll want to steer clear of to keep your braces functioning perfectly. Chewing on objects like pens and ice cubes, biting your nails, and smoking can all cause unwanted pressure on your braces. Do your best to find another way to keep yourself busy while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Dairy - soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads - soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains - pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry - soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood - tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables - mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats - ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor. For example, the Invisalign® clear aligner system will only work if the aligners are worn 20-22 hours per day as recommended. Following instructions is the only way to ensure your treatment is effective, and to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
You can still play sports like normal during your treatment, but remember to protect your teeth with an orthodontic-friendly mouth guard or to remove your Invisalign aligner during practice or the game.
If you have an accident during your athletic activity, check your appliances and your mouth immediately. If the appliances appear damaged or the teeth loosened, schedule an appointment.
If you play an instrument, you may find it a little challenging to become adjusted to playing with your braces. It’s normal to have some difficulty with proper lip position.
Sores can also develop, but the liberal use of wax and warm saltwater rinses will help your lips and cheeks toughen up more quickly than you’d think.
